Manhattan prosecutors have expressed worries regarding former President Donald Trump's potential breach of a gag order in his hush-money criminal case. The prosecutors have alleged that Trump may have violated the order by making derogatory comments about the judge's daughter and spreading misinformation about her on social media.
The Manhattan district attorney's office has formally requested Judge Juan M. Merchan to clarify the extent of the gag order and instruct Trump to refrain from attacking family members. The prosecutors argue that the gag order explicitly prohibits statements that disrupt or harass the court's staff or their families, thereby making the judge's daughter off-limits from Trump's rhetoric.
Trump's legal team, on the other hand, asserts that the district attorney's office is misinterpreting the order and that it does not bar Trump from commenting on the judge's daughter, who works as a political consultant.
The trial, which centers on accusations of Trump falsifying payment records to conceal negative stories during his 2016 presidential campaign, is scheduled to commence on April 15. Trump has maintained his innocence and entered a plea of not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records.
In response to the prosecution's allegations, Trump utilized his Truth Social platform to criticize the gag order, labeling it as illegal and unconstitutional. He accused Judge Merchan of attempting to stifle his First Amendment rights.
The gag order explicitly prohibits Trump from making public statements about jurors or potential witnesses in the trial, as well as from interfering with or harassing court staff or their families. Violating the gag order could lead to Trump being held in contempt of court, fined, or even incarcerated.
Trump's legal representatives have raised constitutional concerns about imposing further restrictions on Trump's speech, particularly as he campaigns for president and faces criminal charges. They have indicated their readiness to litigate the matter fully if prosecutors persist in pursuing the issue, potentially complicating trial preparations with jury selection slated to commence shortly.
