Manhattan prosecutors have accused Donald Trump of violating a gag order in his hush-money criminal case by attacking the judge’s daughter and spreading false information about her on social media. The district attorney’s office requested the judge to clarify the scope of the order and to instruct Trump to stop making attacks on family members. Trump’s lawyers argue that the prosecution is misinterpreting the order and that it does not prevent him from commenting on the judge’s daughter, who works for Trump’s political rivals.
The trial, which involves accusations of Trump falsifying payment records to cover up negative stories during his 2016 campaign, is set to begin on April 15. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. In his posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Loren Merchan of profiting from working against him and falsely claimed she posted a photo of him behind bars. A spokesperson for the court system stated that Trump’s claim was untrue and that the social media account did not belong to Loren Merchan.
The gag order prohibits Trump from making or directing others to make public statements about jurors, witnesses, or court staff, and their families. Trump is allowed to criticize the Manhattan District Attorney, but prosecutors want his family off-limits from attacks. The DA urged the judge to warn Trump to stop his conduct and clarify that the gag order includes protection for family members. Violating the order could result in Trump being held in contempt of court, fined, or jailed. Trump’s lawyers expressed concerns about restrictions on his speech while campaigning for president and facing criminal charges.
The issue of the gag order violation adds a potential complication to trial preparations as jury selection is scheduled to begin in two weeks. Trump’s legal team is prepared to litigate the matter fully if prosecutors continue to press the issue. The prosecution wants to ensure that Trump understands the gag order’s protection for families and directs him to stop his recent conduct. The judge may need to intervene to clarify the scope of the order and address any further violations by Trump. The case continues to draw attention as both sides prepare for the trial.
