OPINION | This article contains opinion. This site is licensed to publish this content.
Donald Trump is again attacking the judge overseeing his New York hush money trial, Juan Merchan, despite an expanded gag order barring him from doing so.
Trump shared a Fox News clip on Truth Social criticizing Merchan’s ruling and mentioning his daughter Loren Merchan works for Democrats.
“Also, the fact is, the judge’s daughter is an activist who works for Kamala Harris? And there was some some dispute on whether she did have a picture up on a website with Donald Trump behind bars,” Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade said. “That, to me, is something that if I’m Donald Trump, I’m concerned about that. The judge has a daughter who feels this way.”
“I would prefer that Trump leave these attacks or issues raised with the judge’s family to his counsel,” attorney Jonathan Turley said. “I think that’s always the better approach.”
Last week, Trump directly named Loren in social media posts claiming bias.
“Judge Juan Merchan is totally compromised, and should be removed from this TRUMP Non-Case immediately,” Trump wrote. “His Daughter, Loren, is a Rabid Trump Hater, who has admitted to having conversations with her father about me, and yet he gagged me.”
A legal organization condemned Trump’s attacks on judges as dangerous and threatening the rule of law.
Judge Merchan expanded the gag order after Trump targeted his daughter on social media for over a week with rumors about her work, though Merchan had said previously he was allowing Trump freedom of speech.
“The American College of Trial Lawyers, acting through its Board of Regents and Executive Committee, condemns the recent vitriolic statements made by former President Donald Trump attacking the character, integrity and sanity of the judges and prosecutors handling the cases against him, with accusations that they are ‘sick,’ ‘deranged,’ ‘evil,’ ‘corrupt,’ and ‘crooked,’” The American College of Trial Lawyers wrote. “Attacks like these are dangerous because they risk provoking violence against judges, prosecutors, and their families. They also undermine the public’s trust in the rule of law, and threaten the independence of the judiciary because they are intimidating.”
Trump faces felony charges for allegedly falsifying records related to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.
He continues claiming innocence and alleging bias against the judge due to his daughter’s political affiliations.
