Trump skirts gag order with repeat attack on daughter of judge in hush money case

Donald Trump unloaded a social media attack on New York State Supreme Court Judge Juan M. Merchan, who is overseeing a hush-money case against the former president, and his daughter Tuesday — a day after the judge slapped him with a gag order.

After Merchan put the limited order in place, Trump called it "unConstitutional" on his Truth Social platform.

"Judge Juan Merchan, who is suffering from an acute case of Trump Derangement Syndrome... has now issued another illegal, un-American, unConstitutional 'order,' as he continues to try and take away my Rights," Trump complained.

"This Judge, by issuing a vicious 'Gag Order,' is wrongfully attempting to deprive me of my First Amendment Right to speak out against the Weaponization of Law Enforcement, including the fact that Crooked Joe Biden, Merrick Garland, and their Hacks and Thugs are tracking and following me all across the Country, obsessively trying to persecute me, while everyone knows I have done nothing wrong!"

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Trump also singled out Merchan's daughter for posting "a picture of me behind bars."

"So, let me get this straight, the Judge's daughter is allowed to post pictures of her 'dream' of putting me in jail, the Manhattan D.A. is able to say whatever lies about me he wants, the Judge can violate our Laws and Constitution at every turn, but I am not allowed to talk about the attacks against me, and the Lunatics trying to destroy my life, and prevent me from winning the 2024 Presidential Election, which I am dominating?" he asked.

Merchan's gag order included "the family members of any counsel or staff member" but excluded the judge and New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

It was put in place just hours after Trump launched into an earlier attack on the judge and his daughter on Monday, calling them "country-destroying scoundrels."

The case alleges that Trump was involved in paying $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, during the final weeks of his 2016 presidential campaign. This payment was intended to prevent Daniels from publicly discussing an affair she claimed to have had with Trump in 2006.

Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, admitted to arranging the payment and stated that it was done at Trump's direction. The legal scrutiny in this matter delves into whether these payments violated campaign finance laws by not being properly reported, considering them unrecorded contributions aimed at influencing the election outcome.