NEW YORK — The judge in Donald Trump’s hush-money criminal case declared Monday that his daughter is off limits to the former president’s grudge, extending a gag order days after Trump attacked her and made false claims about her on social media.
Judge Juan M. Merchan said that his original gag order — which barred Trump from making public statements about jurors, witnesses and others involved in the case — did not include Merchan’s family members, but that his subsequent attacks justify their involvement.
“This pattern of attacks on family members of presiding lawyers and attorneys assigned to his cases serves no legitimate purpose,” Merchan wrote. “It only instills fear in those designated or called to participate in the proceedings that not only they, but also their family members are ‘fair game’ in the defendant’s vitriol.”
Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan, is a Democratic political consultant. Prosecutors had urged Merchan to clarify or expand his silence order after Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Loren Merchan “makes money working on ‘Get Trump,’” and falsely accused her of posting a photo on social media showing him behind bars.
Trump’s lawyers had challenged the gag order and its extension, arguing that Trump was engaging in protected political campaign speech.
Messages seeking comment were left for Trump’s lawyers and the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
The trial, which concerns allegations that Trump falsified payment records in a scheme to cover up negative stories during his 2016 presidential campaign, is set to begin April 15. Trump denies wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying company records.
Merchan’s silence order echoes Trump’s election interference criminal case in Washington, DC. It prohibits statements intended to hinder or harass court staff, the prosecution team or their families – now including Merchan’s family.
However, Trump remains free to criticize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the elected Democrat whose office is prosecuting Trump. But the judge said in his revised order Monday that comments about Bragg’s family are now prohibited.
A violation of the gag order could result in Trump being held in contempt of court, fined or even jailed.