New York Judge Juan Merchan fined Donald Trump $9,000 for repeatedly violating the gag order in his trumped-up hush money trial, and the former president did not take kindly to the punishment.
In a pair of Truth Social posts, Trump tore into Merchan, insisting the judge is “CONFLICTED” and that the trial is “crooked.” The presumed Republican presidential nominee also repeated earlier claims that the trial amounts to election interference.
In addition to fining Trump for allegedly violating the gag order nine times while criticizing expected trial witnesses online, Merchan also threatened him with jail.
The judge said in his ruling, “THEREFORE, Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment.”
Merchan is not covered by the gag order and Trump laid into him afterwards.
“This Judge has taken away my Constitutional Right to FREE SPEECH,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “I am the only Presidential Candidate in History to be GAGGED. This whole ‘Trial’ is RIGGED, and by taking away my FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THIS HIGHLY CONFLICTED JUDGE IS RIGGING THE PRESIDENTIAL OF 2024 ELECTION. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!”
He followed up on that post with a claim that Merchan is doing the bidding of his “friends.”
“This is a total Witch Hunt. Hours of sitting down and listening to nothing except EXONERATION AND LIES,” Trump wrote. “The Trial is going like a speeding bullet, because the Judge is working hard to make all of his friends happy. Merchan is Rigged, Crooked, and, above all, and without question, CONFLICTED. It’s a disgrace to our Country — They’ve taken away my Right to Free Speech. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!”
While addressing the media at the courthouse after the trial ended for the day, Trump insisted that the trial is an intentional effort to keep him off the campaign trail and repeated another claim he has made often when he said, “This is a Biden trial.”
This gag order is not only unique, it’s totally unconstitutional. I am the Republican Candidate for President of the United States… pic.twitter.com/gcczXu4Cqt
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 30, 2024
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Author: Tom Tillison
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