Topline
Former President Donald Trump lashed out against Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan and his daughter, Loren Merchan, once again Thursday—an attack that comes just weeks ahead of Trump’s first criminal trial and two days after the judge issued a limited gag order in the case.
The gag order was issued Tuesday. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Key Facts
Trump said in a Truth Social post Merchan was “totally compromised” and should be removed from the hush money case immediately.
Trump furthered his scrutiny of Merchan’s daughter—identifying her by name and saying she is a “Rabid Trump Hater, who has admitted to having conversations with her father about me,” though the former president didn’t provide evidence to back up his claim.
Trump’s statements against Merchan and his family are not barred by the gag order issued earlier this week.
The former president claimed Merchan’s daughter works for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, extending a criticism he made on Truth Social earlier this week noting she worked as an executive at a progressive political consulting firm, Authentic Campaigns, which Biden is a client of, according to the firm’s website.
Trump, who is barred from publicly disparaging witnesses, prosecutors, jurors and court staff in the hush money case, once again called it a “witch hunt.”
What To Watch For
The trial for the hush money case is scheduled to begin with jury selection on April 15.
Key Background
Merchan levied the gag order against Trump after the former president said on Truth Social the judge couldn’t be impartial in the case, citing Merchan’s daughter’s work with Authentic Campaigns. Trump also lashed out at District Attorney Alvin Bragg, alleging he was beholden to Democrats and claiming, without evidence, that Bragg was influenced by one of his prosecutors to bring the case against Trump. Merchan issued the gag order, saying Trump’s statements were “threatening, inflammatory, denigrating” and pertained to local and federal officials, court staff and “private individuals including grand jurors performing their civic duty.” Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to an alleged attempt to reimburse his former attorney, Michael Cohen, for alleged payments he made to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels about an alleged affair she had with Trump.
Further Reading
Trump Hit With Gag Order In Hush Money Trial (Forbes)
Trump Reprises ‘Stop The Steal’ Rallying Cry In Attacking Hush Money Trial Judge—And His Daughter (Forbes)
