A New York judge on Monday expanded former President Donald Trump’s gag order to limit a recent barrage of attacks on his daughter.
Judge Juan Marchan 5 page judgment President Trump has condemned a series of truthful social posts attacking the judge’s daughter since he was granted a gag order last week.
“This pattern of attacking the family of the lead jurist or lawyer assigned to his case serves no legitimate purpose. “It only instills fear in the defendant’s family members as well that they are ‘fair targets’ for the defendant’s vitriol,” Marchand said in his ruling.
Among other things, President Trump’s previous gag order restricted public statements about jurors, witnesses, and “families of attorneys and employees,” but the family members of Marchand and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) was not applied.
At Bragg’s request, Marchan has now expanded his order to include them, further restricting Trump’s speech as his April 15 trial date approaches.
President Trump is working with Marchand’s daughter Lauren, who is an executive at a progressive political consulting firm whose clients include prominent Democrats such as President Biden, Vice President Harris, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) He repeatedly directed his anger at him. In one post, the former president shared a link with a photo of Lauren Marchan.
Trump’s lawyers argued in court documents that the posts were political advocacy protected by the First Amendment and opposed expanding the gag order. Emphasizing Trump’s status as the Republican nominee, his lawyers argued that the posts were “necessary and appropriate in the current environment.”
Marchan called the discussions a “travesty” and described Trump’s comments as “dangerous rhetoric.”
“Such concerns undoubtedly impede the fair administration of justice and constitute a direct attack on the rule of law itself,” Marchand wrote.
“Again, all members of the public who are asked to participate in these proceedings, whether as jurors, witnesses, or in any other capacity, are concerned not only for their own safety, but also for their safety and personal safety. We must also be concerned about the possibility of an attack” on their loved ones. “That reality cannot be overstated,” he continued.
Mr. Trump’s lawyers had previously asked the judge to recuse himself from the case over Lauren Marchan’s accomplishments, saying it cast doubt on his impartiality. Marchan ultimately denied their request after seeking guidance from the state’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Board. Trump’s lawyers indicated early Monday that they plan to file a new motion to dismiss.
The former president launched attacks on his own lawsuit and the families of other political rival judges.
President Trump targeted the wife and son of a judge in a civil fraud case on Truth Social, claiming he wanted the judge to serve prison time or was profiting financially from the case. . When running for president, he targeted the wives of several of his opponents, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and then-candidate Jeb Bush.
President Trump is facing 34 charges related to hush money payments made by the former president’s former fixer to porn actress Stormy Daniels in an effort to cover up an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election. He pleaded not guilty.
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