President Donald Trump resumed his attacks on the daughter of a New York judge who oversaw his criminal trial — in spite of a gag order that was never officially lifted.
The president was prohibited from commenting publicly about the prosecution team that secured his conviction on 34 felony counts, as well as court staffers and their families— including the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, who Trump attacked early Monday in a swipe against another judge who tried to block immigrant deportations.
"This Judge is almost as conflicted (actually, not even close!) as the Judge whose daughter made Millions of Dollars representing Biden/Harris against me, while her father presided over a Fake Case against me, and refused to RECUSE himself," Trump posted shortly after midnight on Truth Social. "He should be disbarred! Crooked Alvin Bragg was the D.A. in the case. They put me under a GAG ORDER so that I could not talk about it. Miscarriage of Justice!!!
Republican lawmakers have called for a criminal probe of Loren Merchan, the judge's daughter, who worked for a consulting company that contracted with Kamala Harris' first presidential campaign in 2019 and during the 2024 election cycle. That company's owner said she had little contact with the candidates.
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"The gag order remains in effect until Judge Merchan lifts it (which he has not done) or the trial court loses jurisdiction of the case by virtue of Trump filing an appeal following his sentencing," said Clark Neily of the Cato Institute in May, shortly after Trump was convicted of falsifying business records.
Trump seemed to understand that when he was finally sentenced in January, after he was re-elected and 10 days before his inauguration.
"I was under a gag order, I guess I'm still under, so I probably won't do it now," Trump said during the Jan. 10 sentencing hearing. "I am totally innocent, I did nothing wrong."
Trump received an unconditional discharge for his criminal conviction, meaning he will not face fines, prison or any other penalties for falsifying business records to conceal a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, which Merchan said was the only lawful sentence that would not encroach on the office of the president.