In the ongoing criminal hush money case involving former President Donald Trump, Judge Juan Merchan has expanded the existing gag order to include family members of both the district attorney and the judge himself.
This comes after prosecutors raised concerns about Trump’s targeted attacks on the judge’s daughter and its potential impact on trial witnesses’ safety.
The judge’s ruling, issued late Monday, marks a notable escalation in efforts to maintain the integrity of the judicial proceedings. The expanded gag order now encompasses family members of District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan, in response to mounting apprehensions voiced by trial participants.
Last week, Judge Merchan had imposed a limited gag order, restricting Trump from making comments about potential witnesses, jurors, lawyers, court staff, and their families. However, the recent request by prosecutors prompted the judge to extend these restrictions to cover the mentioned family members.
Prosecutors expressed grave concerns over the safety of trial participants, citing Trump’s repeated social media attacks on Judge Merchan’s daughter. They argued that such rhetoric posed a direct threat to the integrity of the proceedings and aimed to intimidate witnesses.
In response to the ruling, Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized the decision as an infringement on the former president’s First Amendment rights. Cheung emphasized Trump’s constitutional right to engage in political speech, particularly as a leading presidential candidate.
The defense team, while acknowledging the need to ensure a fair trial, asserted Trump’s right to address pertinent issues related to the case. Additionally, they sought permission to file a motion requesting Judge Merchan’s recusal, citing potential conflicts of interest stemming from the judge’s daughter’s involvement with a political consulting firm.
The hush money case revolves around allegations that Trump falsified business records in connection with a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, just days before the 2016 presidential election. Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to commence on April 15 in New York City.
