A New York judge issued a restraining order against former President Donald Trump on Monday, prohibiting him from discussing the judge's family in public.
The decision by Judge Juan Merchan came in response to a request from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's prosecutors to extend a previous gag order in the case, explicitly stating that the judge's family is off-limits.
Merchan concluded that any comments regarding his daughter would disrupt the impartial administration of justice and represent a direct assault on the Rule of Law.
"In light of the Defendant's recent verbal attacks, an ordinary observer would now feel compelled to believe that if they were to get involved in this case in any way, they should not only be concerned for themselves but also for their family members," Merchan wrote. "Such apprehensions would unquestionably impede the equitable administration of justice and constitute a blatant affront to the Rule of Law."
Trump had repeatedly referenced Judge Merchan's daughter in his social media posts both before and after Merchan's initial gag order on March 26, which restricted Trump's ability to comment on individuals linked to the upcoming April 15 trial.
During the recent court proceedings, Trump was prohibited from making comments about potential witnesses, jurors, court staff, or lawyers involved in the case. However, he was allowed to criticize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Merchan.
Instead of targeting the judge, Trump chose to attack Merchan's daughter. He criticized her for working at a Democratic consulting firm, shared a photo of her, and falsely claimed she had shared a photoshopped image of him in prison.
This claim was later debunked by a court spokesperson, Al Baker, who clarified that the photo was manipulated from an old, inactive account.
In a recent court filing, Trump's legal team expressed their intention to once again request Judge Merchan's recusal from the case. They argued that Merchan's recent interview with the Associated Press raised concerns about his impartiality. In the interview, Merchan emphasized his commitment to ensuring a fair trial and upholding justice.
Merchan stated, "There's no agenda here. We want to follow the law. We want justice to be done."
The controversy centers on reimbursements for a "hush money" payment arranged by his ex-attorney to an adult film star, shortly before the 2016 presidential race. Trump refutes all accusations, asserting that the charges are a form of political payback. He has pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records that he faces in the case.
