In a recent social media post, former President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to go to jail, not for the crimes he is accused of, but for violating an expanded gag order in his upcoming hush money trial. Trump, the presumptive GOP candidate, targeted Judge Juan Merchan, who had granted the gag order, along with Merchan’s daughter, whom Trump has repeatedly criticized for alleged bias against him.
Trump’s post on his social media platform, Truth Social, consisted of three parts, where he vehemently criticized Merchan and expressed his readiness to become a “Modern Day Nelson Mandela” if found guilty of violating the order. Merchan had issued the expanded gag order after Trump made repeated threats against him and his daughter, even sharing her name and photos despite her lack of involvement in the case.
The initial gag order was requested by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg to safeguard jurors, witnesses, and investigators from potential violent threats by Trump’s supporters. Trump’s recent rant also touched upon the defamation case filed against him by writer E. Jean Carroll, which resulted in an $83 million verdict against him. Trump is currently appealing the case.
Trump further questioned the impartiality of New York judges, referring to his previous experience with Judge Lewis Kaplan in a defamation lawsuit. The upcoming hush money trial, scheduled to begin jury selection on April 15 in New York City, stems from a grand jury indictment accusing Trump of fraudulently concealing payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election.
