Trump demands removal of Judge Merchan in meltdown before contempt hearing

Donald Trump kicked off his Saturday morning by going on an all-caps tirade aimed at Judge Juan Merchan as his attorneys prepare to defend him in a contempt hearing set for early next week over his other attacks on Truth Social.

On Monday, the former president's trial on 34 felony counts related to paying hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels will proceed after a jury was sworn in on Friday.

ALSO READ: A criminologist explains why keeping Trump from the White House is all that matters

Now facing an actual criminal trial that could lead to four years in prison if he is found guilty, the ex-president is ramping up his attacks on the judge and appears to still be furious he is going to trial.

On Saturday morning, he wrote, "THIS SCAM 'RUSHED' TRIAL TAKING PLACE IN A 95% DEMOCRAT AREA IS A PLANNED AND COORDINATED WITCH HUNT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT 8 YEARS AGO, BUT EVERYBODY PASSED. INSTEAD THEY WAITED AND BROUGHT IT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE WORST AND MOST INCOMPETENT PRESIDENT EVER, CROOKED JOE BIDEN. IT IS BEING PRESIDED OVER BY POSSIBLY THE MOST CONFLICTED JUDGE IN JUDICIAL HISTORY, WHO MUST BE REMOVED FROM THIS HOAX IMMEDIATELY. I DID NOTHING WRONG!"

Trump's attack falls in line with a prediction by former prosecutor Charles Coleman Jr. who predicted on MSNBC hours earlier that the former president was going to "pop" due to the stress of his trial and his advanced age.