Donald Trump may have violated his hush money trial gag order by sharing a clip online which discusses the daughter of the judge overseeing the New York proceedings.
In a May 2 post on Truth Social, Trump shared a lengthy video clip of his ally Steve Bannon’s WarRoom podcast, during which hosts Ben Bergquam and Andrew Giuliani, the son former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, discuss how Judge Juan Merchan fined Trump $9,000 and threatened the former president with jail for repeatedly violating his gag order.
Trump was placed under a gag order by Merchan to prevent the former president from making public comments about court staff, jurors, potential witnesses and lawyers from the Manhattan district attorney’s office, or their families, during his falsifying business records case. The gag order was put in place after the former president made multiple comments about the judge’s daughter on social media, including calling her a “Rabid Trump Hater.”
As first reported by Meidas Touch Network, the clip which Trump shared on social media featured Andrew Giuliani talking about the judge’s daughter, Loren Merchan, president of Authentic Campaigns which helps raise funds for Democrat figures’ campaigns.
Former President Donald Trump with his lawyers talks to the press pool outside Manhattan Criminal Court room during his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 3, 2024 in New York City. Trump is accused of violating the gag order imposed on him during the hush money trial.
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“The gag order that he is violating, according to the judge, that Donald Trump is violating is just pointing out the fact that the judge’s daughter has profited to the tune of $90 million from [California rep.] Adam Schiff, duck [Vice President] Kamala Harris,” Giuliani says.
“Donald Trump cannot point that out during this political prosecution, that tells you everything you need to know.”
The video in question now appears to have been removed from Trump’s Truth Social profile.
The nine violations for which Trump was fined the maximum $1,000 each were in relation to Truth Social comments and reposts, as well as statements on his campaign website.
Trump now may have violated his gag order again by sharing a video online in which a public comment was made about the judge’s daughter.
The former president was previously fined for in part sharing social media posts which targeted Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen and adult film star Stormy Daniels, both key witnesses in the trial.
Trump’s legal team has been contacted for comment via email.
Kevin O’Brien, former assistant US attorney, previously suggested that Trump will still continue to violate the gag order even with the threat of jail looming over him.
“Trump shouldn’t test Merchan, but he will, inevitably, as the evidence at trial gets worse and worse for him,” O’Brien told Newsweek.
“The question is will Merchan finally pull the trigger. I’m guessing he won’t, partly because he wants the trial to stay on track and avoid side shows, partly because the precedent of jailing a former president and presidential contender weighs on him, and partly because of the heat he will take from sectors of the media and Trump supporters.”
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
