Federal judge blasts Trump’s attacks on judges, warns against tyranny

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton criticized former President Trump’s attacks on judges involved in his criminal cases, most recently his hush money trial, saying that undermining an independent judiciary risks leading the country toward tyranny. I’m warning you.

Walton joined CNN’s Caitlan Collins to discuss Trump’s offensive comments against family members who are considered enemies in various legal battles. President Trump’s latest target is the daughter of Judge Juan Marchan, the New York state official overseeing his criminal trial related to hush money paid to a porn actress to cover up an alleged affair before the 2016 election.

“It’s very embarrassing when someone makes a comment about a judge. And it’s especially problematic when that comment is in the form of a threat, especially when it’s directly directed at a family member.” Walton said Friday..

Walton said the threats he faces have increased since he began taking on cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. His daughter has also been the target of threats.

“We do this work because we are dedicated to the rule of law, we believe in the rule of law, and the rule of law means avoiding potential physical harm. “It can only function effectively if there are judges who are ready to carry out their duties without causing any harm,” he said.

Mr. Marchan’s daughter, Lauren Marchan, was an executive at Authentic Campaigns, a progressive political consulting firm that worked for prominent Democrats, including President Biden.

The X (formerly Twitter) account appears to belong to Lauren Marchan, and at one point used a photographic illustration of the imprisoned Trump as its profile picture. President Trump posted on his own Truth social site criticizing both the judge and his daughter.

Earlier this week, Marchan issued a gag order on the former president, limiting what he can say publicly about the incident. Machan and his daughter are excluded from the order.

Walton argued that judges cannot be allowed to use intimidation to influence “the way they live their lives and the way they treat litigants,” but said intimidation was “an attack on the rule of law.”

“I think it’s important that we as judges speak out on things that we think affect the process. Without a viable court system that functions efficiently, it’s tyranny.” He said.

Still, he added that this is a new reality facing judges, citing several other examples where judges and their families have faced potential violence.

Walton didn’t elaborate on the political implications of Republican presidential candidate Trump’s comments, but he said it’s important for people in positions to understand how what they say resonates with others. said it was important.

“So I think it’s really important for people in positions of authority to be very careful about what they say, so that other people act on what they say, and in some cases, someone “As a result, we can prevent injury or death from occurring,” he said.

Marchan on Monday ruled that Trump’s hush money case will go to trial on April 15, denying the former president’s attempts to delay it further beyond the November election.