In a heated statement, 45th President Donald Trump has condemned the judge overseeing his trial in Manhattan, claiming the judge is “rigging” the 2024 election. This accusation came after the judge found Trump in violation of a gag order linked to the ongoing legal proceedings.
“This Judge has taken away my Constitutional Right to FREE SPEECH. I am the only Presidential Candidate in History to be GAGGED,” Trump expressed in a post on Truth Social. He further escalated his criticisms, stating, “This whole ‘Trial’ is RIGGED, and by taking away my FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THIS HIGHLY CONFLICTED JUDGE IS RIGGING THE PRESIDENTIAL OF 2024 ELECTION. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!”
Judge Juan Merchan determined that Trump breached the gag order—which restricts public comments about witnesses and court official’s family members—on nine separate occasions via posts on social media. Consequently, Trump has been fined $1,000 for each incident, totaling $9,000.
Following the decision, Trump removed the offending posts from his Truth Social account. The action comes after allegations from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, which claims Trump had violated the gag order fourteen times since it was established.
Judge Merchan warned of more severe consequences for any further infractions, indicating “incarceratory punishment” could be applied if needed to ensure compliance with the gag order.
Trump has been vocal about his objections to the gag order, labeling the entire case as a “scam” orchestrated by the Biden administration, which he says unfairly silences his ability to defend himself. “We have a gag order, which to me is totally unconstitutional. I’m not allowed to talk, but people are allowed to talk about me. So, they can talk about me,” Trump stated outside the courthouse.
Adding to his grievances, Trump called for Judge Merchan’s recusal from the case, citing significant conflicts of interest, particularly pointing to Merchan’s daughter’s work as a political consultant for Democratic politicians. “This is a hoax. This is a judge who is conflicled – badly, badly, badly conflicted. I’ve never seen a judge so conflicted and giving us virtually no rulings,” he remarked.
Judge Merchan expressed regret in his ruling that he couldn’t levy a larger fine against Trump, suggesting that the penalties could have been more substantial, potentially up to $150,000, depending on the wealth of the individual.
Trump faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in the trial, to which he has pleaded not guilty and denounced as a “witch hunt” and “scam.” The case primarily revolves around payments made to silence allegations of an extramarital affair with Stormy Daniels, which Trump denies. These payments were allegedly logged fraudulently as legal expenses by the Trump Organization, an action prosecutors are arguing constitutes a felony under New York law, specifically aimed at concealing another crime related to election manipulation.
That whole court process is an attempt to sideline the election!