Manhattan prosecutors and former President Trump are arguing about the extent of the gag order in Trump's hush money case just before the trial begins.
The former president has been expressing his anger towards Judge Juan Merchan's daughter on social media after Merchan refused to delay Trump's trial and approved prosecutors' request to silence him. Manhattan prosecutors' office and Trump's lawyers are debating whether the gag order also applies to the families of the district attorney and the judge.
In public letters on Friday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office and Trump's lawyers are disputing whether the gag order covers the families of the district attorney and the judge, as mentioned in the order.
The order restricts Trump's public statements about the family members of any counsel or staff member involved in the case.
However, Trump is still allowed to attack Bragg himself, and there are no apparent restrictions on his statements about the judge.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass wrote a letter to the judge, suggesting that the gag order should protect the family members of the court, the district attorney, and all other individuals mentioned in the order. Trump's legal team disagreed with the suggestion, implying that the prosecutors' request for clarification is an expansion of the restrictions. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass wrote a letter to the judge.
Trump's lawyers objected to the suggestion, arguing that the gag order does not apply in the way claimed by the prosecutors.
Trump's attorneys Susan Necheles and Todd Blanche expressed this disagreement in their letter. Bragg's office is prosecuting Trump for allegedly falsifying business records in connection with payments made to Stormy Daniels, and Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony counts.
The former president has not held back from targeting the families of his perceived foes during his legal battles.
As the trial date approaches, Trump has intensified his attacks on those involved in his hush money case. Trump has particularly focused his criticism on Merchan's daughter for her employment at a progressive digital agency. Trump has targeted the spouses and children of judges overseeing his cases and prosecutors in his legal battles.
Trump has increased his attacks on those involved in his hush money case as the trial date nears.
This week, Trump has specifically singled out Merchan's daughter. He previously cited her employment as a reason for the judge to recuse himself, but the judge refused based partly on guidance from an ethics advisory committee. Prosecutor Steinglass urged the judge to warn Trump that he was violating the gag order and to sanction him if he continues to disregard it, arguing that his attacks are likely to influence witnesses and others.
Steinglass wrote that potential trial witnesses and prospective jurors who are not currently the subject of Trump's attacks are likely to fear similar attacks on themselves and their family members.
“This fear is not just an idea: while getting ready for the trial, several possible witnesses have already shared serious worries with the prosecution about their own safety and the safety of their family if they testify against the defendant,” he said.
Manhattan prosecutors and former President Trump are arguing about the extent of the gag order placed on the ex-president in his hush money criminal case less than three weeks before the trial begins. The former president has kept expressing his anger towards Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter in his social media posts after…
