Trump rages against 'sleazebags and lowlifes' in new potential gag order violation

Donald Trump tested the boundaries of his gag order once again by rallying Republicans to push back on testimony by the "sleazebags, lowlifes, and grifters" with whom he once consorted.

The former president lashed out at witnesses in his New York criminal trial a day after adult film star Stormy Daniels told the jury in vivid detail about their 2006 sexual encounter at the heart of the hush money case, and he called on his GOP allies to defend him against the allegations – all of which could violate the gag order prohibiting him from commenting on participants in the trial.

"It is a really bad feeling to have your Constitutional Right to Free Speech, such a big part of life in our Country, so unfairly taken from you, especially when all of the sleazebags, lowlifes, and grifters that you oppose are allowed to say absolutely anything that they want," Trump posted on Truth Social. "It is hard to sit back and listen to lies and false statements be made against you knowing that if you respond, even in the most modest fashion, you are told by a Corrupt and Highly Conflicted Judge that you will be PUT IN PRISON, maybe for a long period of time."

Judge Juan Merchan has already found Trump in contempt of court for violating the order and fined him $10,000, and he warned the former president Monday that jail was likely next for further violations.

READ MORE: ‘Outrageous’: Army reservist with KKK ties still in the military

"This Fascist mindset is all coming from D.C.," Trump posted. "It is a sophisticated hit job on Crooked Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, ME!. Judges Engoron and Kaplan, also of New York, are equally Corrupt, only in different ways. What these THUGS are doing is AN ATTACK ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND OUR ONCE GREAT NATION ITSELF. OUR FIRST AMENDMENT MUST STAND, FREE AND STRONG. 'GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!’"

The former president walked right up to the line Tuesday morning by commenting about an upcoming witness who turned out to be Daniels, but that post was deleted within minutes.

"I have just recently been told who the witness is today," Trump previously posted on Truth Social shortly before Daniels was confirmed as a witness. "This is unprecedented, no time for lawyers to prepare. No Judge has ever run a trial in such a biased and partisan way. He is CROOKED & HIGHLY CONFLICTED, even taking away my First Amendment Rights. Now he’s threatening me with JAIL, & THEY HAVE NO CASE - This according to virtually all Legal Scholars & Experts! Why isn’t the Fake News Media reporting his Conflict?"

The former president's allies could land him behind bars if they take up his invitation to attack Daniels or other witnesses, because Merchan's order explicitly prohibits Trump from "directing others to make public statements about known or reasonably foreseeable witnesses concerning their potential participation in the investigation or in this criminal proceeding.”