Court Directs Trump to Cease Revealing His Daughter’s Democratic Party Fundraising efforts

A court ruling on Monday ordered Donald Trump to cease verbal attacks on family members of a New York judge and others involved in his upcoming trial on business transactions. This came after the former president criticized the judge’s daughter for her ties to the Democratic party.

The court emphasized the importance of safety for all individuals involved in the proceedings, including jurors, witnesses, and others. The expanded gag order issued by Judge Juan Merchan aimed to prevent personal attacks on loved ones of those participating in the trial.

New York prosecutors raised concerns that Trump’s remarks were intended to intimidate potential witnesses. They urged Judge Merchan to clarify that the existing gag order, which prohibits Trump from publicly discussing witnesses and court personnel, also extends to family members.

In response to a social media post by Trump where he referred to Judge Merchan’s daughter as a “Rabid Trump Hater” and called for the judge’s removal from the case, prosecutors stressed that family members of trial participants should be off-limits.

The daughter of Judge Merchan operates a digital marketing agency that collaborates with Democratic candidates and non-profits. Trump’s legal team argued that her work presented a conflict of interest and unsuccessfully attempted to have Judge Merchan removed from the case.

Trump’s defense lawyers maintained that his posts did not violate the gag order and were not intended to disrupt the trial or cause harm. They argued for Trump’s right to express his views as a prominent political figure.

Trump is scheduled to stand trial on April 15 in a New York state court in Manhattan for alleged involvement in concealing a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records and denies any encounter with Daniels.

If Trump violates Judge Merchan’s gag order, he could face penalties or imprisonment. The order does not prohibit him from criticizing the judge or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who filed the charges last year.

In addition to this case, Trump is facing three other criminal indictments as he prepares to challenge President Biden in the upcoming election. These cases relate to his efforts to contest the 2020 election results and handling of government documents post-presidency.

A similar gag order has been issued in Trump’s criminal case in Washington, D.C., regarding his investigation into election fraud in 2020.