Former President Donald Trump has wasted no time exploiting a loophole in the gag order issued by New York state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan in the hush money case. While the order, issued on Tuesday, bars Trump from making statements against witnesses, jurors, and "court staff," it makes no mention of the judge and his family members, leaving them vulnerable to Trump's attacks.
Trump took to his Truth Social account on Wednesday morning to target both Justice Merchan and his progressive daughter, Loren Merchan, who works as a Democratic political consultant. Trump claimed that Loren Merchan "represents Crooked Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, and other Radical Liberals," and had posted a picture of him behind bars, which he believed to be her "obvious goal."
However, a spokesman for the New York state court system, Al Baker, clarified that the X account attributed to Loren Merchan no longer belongs to her, as she deleted it approximately a year ago. "It is not linked to her email address, nor has she posted under that screen name since she deleted the account. Rather, it represents the reconstitution, last April, and manipulation of an account she long ago abandoned," Baker said in a press statement.
Despite Loren Merchan having no known role in the hush money trial, Trump has repeatedly targeted her, with his lawyers demanding Justice Merchan recuse himself from the case last August, in part due to his daughter's political affiliations. The judge declined the request.
Trump's attacks on the judge and his daughter come as he pulls out all the stops to stave off the start of his first criminal trial, set to begin on April 15. Judge Merchan has refused to sideline the case over alleged discovery violations, issued the gag order, and even threatened Trump's lawyers with criminal contempt, all in separate court rulings.
The contentious dynamic between Trump's legal team and the judge was on full display during a hearing on Monday, with Merchan accusing Trump's attorneys of attempting to circumvent the court's rulings and questioning their lack of evidence. Despite Trump's efforts to delay the trial, Merchan has only granted a three-week postponement, much to the former president's frustration.
Trump's legal team still has various pending motions seeking further postponement, including a request to wait until the Supreme Court rules on Trump's presidential immunity defense in another criminal case and a demand for an adjournment over "prejudicial pretrial publicity." However, the judge has not yet ruled on these demands and has expressed increasing frustration with Trump's lawyers' tactics.
In a written ruling on Tuesday, Merchan accused Trump's lawyers of attempting to circumvent the judge's requirement that they seek permission before filing any new motions, a step implemented earlier this month to save time as Trump relentlessly files last-minute delay attempts. The judge also reminded Trump's attorneys that he has the power to issue punishment for criminal contempt.
Despite the gag order preventing Trump from making public statements about witnesses, jurors, court staff, and prosecutors other than District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the former president has continued to attack Justice Merchan and his family, who do not appear to be covered by the order.
"The Judge has to recuse himself immediately, and right the wrong committed by not doing so last year," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. "If the Biased and Conflicted Judge is allowed to stay on this Sham 'Case,' it will be another sad example of our Country becoming a Banana Republic, not the America we used to know and love. These are Election Interfering Witch Hunts. We will crush each one of these Hoaxes, and Make America Great Again!"
