(LibertySociety.com) – Former President Trump has continuously called for the gag order against him to be lifted in the Stormy Daniels hush money trial, citing a violation of his First Amendment rights.
After Biden donor Judge Juan Merchan fined him $9,000 for violating the gag order, Trump argued that he was rigging the 2024 election. In his April 30 order, Merchan could not hold back his fantasy of fining Trump more than $1,000 for each violation, writing that certain instances could have resulted in a much larger fine if he had more discretion.
Merchan ordered Trump to delete his Truth Social posts that violated the gag order, giving him a deadline of 2:15 p.m. that day, to which Trump complied. Under the gag order, Trump is forbidden from discussing anything about the jurors, witnesses, staff members, attorneys, or the judge’s family members. Judge Merchan’s daughter is a far-left radical Democrat who runs a company called Authentic Campaigns. She has helped raise money for Biden, Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff, and many others.
On May 6, Merchan held Trump in contempt of court for committing his tenth gag order violation when he posted about the political leanings of the jury. During a media phone interview, Trump remarked on how quickly the jury was selected, adding, “95% Democrats. The area’s mostly all Democrat.” Merchan’s order said that Trump was questioning “the integrity, and therefore the legitimacy” of the trial, and jeopardizing the safety of the jurors and their families.
The $1,000 fine is the maximum allowed under New York state law, but Merchan again said that he may consider putting Trump in jail if his violations continue. He claimed that he did not want to jail the former president, noting the logistical nightmare it would impose on the Secret Service. He added that he could not allow Trump’s attack on the rule of law to continue. Trump has maintained his innocence since the charges were announced and believes it is a politically motivated prosecution.
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