Former President Donald Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, has been at the center of controversy due to posts that have been deemed as baiting by Judge Juan Merchan. The posts in question have been accused of repeating unsubstantiated claims about potential jurors, which some sources believe is a deliberate attempt to provoke a response from the judge and challenge the legal system.
Despite the provocative nature of the posts, the legal implications under New York law are not entirely clear. Prosecutors have alleged that Trump violated his gag order on seven additional occasions, citing online posts as evidence of the repeated infractions. The situation has been described as 'ridiculous' by prosecutors.
While there have been multiple allegations of gag order violations, Judge Merchan is unable to immediately incarcerate Trump. The judge is required to schedule a hearing with Trump to determine whether the violations constitute a civil or criminal offense. Legal analysts have pointed out the potential challenges associated with both approaches.
Notably, Judge Merchan has opted to delay the hearing on the gag order violations for five days, with the hearing now set for April 23. This delay has been interpreted by some sources as a sign of the judge's cautious approach and a desire to ensure fairness to the former president. By allowing the situation to persist without immediate action, the judge may be attempting to handle the matter with prudence and impartiality.
