Alina Habba, former President Donald Trump’s attorney, may have violated a gag order in Trump’s hush-money criminal trial by making disparaging comments about Stormy Daniels on air. The trial revolves around allegations that Trump falsified records to conceal payments to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen during the 2016 campaign. Trump, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential race, has denied any wrongdoing. After Daniels testified about an alleged encounter with Trump, Habba appeared on Hannity and criticized Daniels’ credibility, potentially breaching the gag order barring public statements about jurors, witnesses, and others connected to the case.
The gag order, which has been violated multiple times by Trump, does not restrict Judge Juan M. Merchan or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Habba’s comments on Hannity about the “salacious” information presented in court may have violated the order. Referring to allegations as “frankly false,” Habba raised concerns about taxpayer dollars being spent on the trial. There has been speculation about whether Habba’s role as Trump’s legal spokesperson could be considered a violation of the gag order, as it restricts Trump from directing others to make statements about witnesses, in addition to making statements himself.
Ben Meiselas, co-founder of MeidasTouch, a liberal media company, expressed concerns on X (formerly Twitter) about Habba’s comments potentially violating the gag order. Meiselas questioned the difference between Trump making a social media post about a witness and having his paid spokesperson attack a witness on cable TV. Meiselas and the MeidasTouch account highlighted the potential implications of Habba’s statements and criticized her for possibly seeking to intimidate witnesses on air while being paid by Trump. The MeidasTouch account suggested that Habba could not claim plausible deniability, as she had previously acknowledged the restrictions of the gag order on her ability to discuss certain topics on air.
The situation involving Habba’s comments and the potential violation of the gag order has raised questions about the integrity of the ongoing trial and the legal boundaries that Trump’s team may have crossed. Habba’s appearance on Hannity, where she criticized the credibility of a witness, could have implications for the case and may lead to further legal consequences for Trump. The fines imposed on Trump for previous violations of the gag order, along with warnings from the judge about potential prison time for future violations, underscore the seriousness of these breaches. As the trial continues, the focus remains on upholding the legal process and ensuring that all parties involved adhere to the rules set forth by the court.
In response to inquiries about the potential gag order violation, both Habba and Bragg’s office have been contacted for comment. The situation continues to evolve as legal experts, commentators, and the public await further developments in the trial and the consequences of potential breaches of the gag order. The implications of Habba’s comments and the reactions from various individuals and organizations highlight the complexities of ensuring a fair and just legal process, free from interference or manipulation. As the trial proceeds, the handling of the gag order violations and the impact on the case will be closely monitored to uphold the principles of justice and accountability.
