#GagOrder Against #Trump Is Expanded to Stop Attacks on Judge’s Family
Donald Trump had in recent days targeted the daughter of Juan #Merchan, the judge overseeing his #criminal trial in Manhattan, in blistering social media posts.
The NY judge overseeing #Trump’s upcoming #criminal trial expanded an existing #GagOrder on Mon to bar him from attacking the judge’s family members, who in recent days have become the #target of Trump’s #abuse.
Justice Juan #Merchan last wk issued an order prohibiting Trump from attacking #witnesses, #prosecutors, #jurors & #court staff, as well as their relatives. That order, however, did not cover Justice Merchan himself or the Manhattan DA, #AlvinBragg, who brought the criminal case.
The NY judge presiding over one (bc there’s >1) of Trump’s #criminal trials imposed a gag order on Tues that prohibits him from attacking #witnesses, #prosecutors & #jurors, the latest effort to rein in Trump’s wrathful rhetoric.
Both comments would now arguably violate the #GagOrder. In another post, #Trump took aim at Justice #Merchan & his family, claiming that the judge “hates me,” though those comments do not appear to cross the line the judge has now set.
The order, along w/ Justice Merchan’s recent order protecting the identities of potential #jurors in the case, reflects the … angry & chaotic atmosphere … around Trump’s trials.
US District Judge #AileenCannon’s ultimatum Mon night came as a surprise twist in what could have been a simple order; one merely asking federal prosecutors & Trump’s lawyers for proposed #JuryInstructions at the upcoming #trial.
But as she has done repeatedly, #Cannon used this otherwise innocuous #legal step as yet another way to swing the case wildly in favor of the man who appointed her while he was president.