Trump melts down in lengthy statement about Judge Merchan hours before closing arguments

Donald Trump on Monday had a social media meltdown, tearing into the criminal justice system and Judge Juan Merchan, the jurist overseeing the ex-president's criminal hush money cover-up case, hours before the case is set to go to closing arguments.

Trump, who less than an hour before complained that the prosecution was going second in closing arguments, something Trump said was a "big advantage" for them, once again took to Truth Social to air his grievances about the criminal case.

This time, however, Trump directed the rant at Merchan and appeared to test the boundaries of the gag order imposed upon him in that case.

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"Could somebody please ask Judge Merchan, whatever happened to MARK POMERANTZ, the man Alvin Bragg was furious at for the things he did on this contrived and unconstitutional case, and why wasn’t he allowed to testify?" Trump asked on Monday. "Also, why did Judge Merchan not allow Brad Smith, the leading Election Law Expert in the Country, to testify."

Trump claimed, without providing evidence, that Smith "would have ended the case quickly by explaining the Law and stating that President Trump did nothing wrong."

"Likewise Bob Costello, and all of his direct and irrefutable knowledge, why was he so horribly treated and completely shut down by the Conflicted Judge, and why were his Emails and Text Messages not allowed to be shown," the former president added.

That's when Trump appeared to tread close to the gag order Merchan already expanded.

"And then, of course, there’s the BIGGEST EVENT OF THEM ALL, but I’m not allowed to talk about it because I’m under an illegal and unconstitutional GAG ORDER," Trump said. "This is the Biden White House at work. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!"

It's not clear exactly to what Trump was referring with that vague statement.