DA Seeks Stricter Gag Order on Trump After Social Media Attacks

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has called for tightening the gag order against former President Donald Trump in his hush money case. This comes after Trump’s repeated social media attacks on Judge Juan Merchan and his daughter. Bragg’s filing on Monday highlighted Trump’s “dangerous, violent, and reprehensible rhetoric” which, he argues, threatens the proceedings and intimidates witnesses and trial participants.

Referring to Truth Social posts by Trump, Bragg noted the former president’s claims that Judge Merchan was “totally compromised” and that Merchan’s daughter, who works for President Joe Biden, was a “Rabid Trump Hater.” Despite the gag order issued last week, it did not explicitly prohibit Trump from verbally attacking the judge and his daughter.

Bragg argued that if the gag order did not already cover Trump’s attacks, the court should clarify or extend the order to protect the family members of those involved. He also warned Trump that further violations would result in sanctions. Bragg’s filing echoes a similar request made by prosecutors last Friday, expressing concerns that potential trial witnesses and jurors not yet targeted by Trump might fear retaliation.

Trump’s attorneys, in their filing on Monday, countered that Trump had not violated the order. They argued that broadening it would worsen the existing constitutional violations they believe the order imposes.

The background to this request lies in Merchan’s initial issuance of the gag order following Trump’s comments claiming Merchan could not be impartial due to his daughter’s employment at a progressive political consulting firm, Authentic Campaigns, which counts President Biden as a client. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the nearly three dozen charges against him in the hush money case, which involve falsifying business records related to alleged payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump. Trump’s first criminal trial is scheduled for April 15.