“REMOVE THE GAG ORDER” – Trump Rails Against Court Restrictions in New Rant
Ben Gray/The AP
Former President Donald Trump began Wednesday with a fiery post on Truth Social, lashing out at a gag order that prevents him from attacking witnesses in his hush-money trial. In a caps-heavy rant, Trump expressed frustration over the restrictions placed on him following his conviction on 34 felony counts related to a 2016 hush-money payment scheme.
“I am proud to represent our Failing Nation in fighting the GREATEST POLITICAL WITCH HUNT IN HISTORY,” Trump wrote. “REMOVE THE GAG ORDER SO THAT I CAN SHOW HOW CORRUPT OUR COURT SYSTEM IS. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE NOT TO BE GAGGED!”
Despite his claims, Trump is not representing the nation in this legal matter, as it is being prosecuted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The gag order was imposed by New York Judge Juan Merchan to prevent Trump from engaging in any form of witness intimidation, something he has been accused of multiple times throughout the case.
Earlier this year, Judge Merchan found that Trump had violated the gag order nine times, warning the former president that further violations could result in jail time. Trump’s legal troubles have continued to mount, as he has faced fines and sanctions in other civil trials where he has also violated gag orders.
In addition to the hush-money conviction, Trump faces several other legal challenges. He has been indicted on charges of illegally retaining classified government documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort and refusing to return them. He is also facing indictments connected to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and remain in power.
Trump’s constant attacks on the judicial system are not new, but this recent outburst has drawn the attention of critics. Former prosecutor Ron Filipkowski responded sharply to Trump’s rant, stating, “The US is not a failing nation. What is failing is Donald Trump’s company.”
As the former president continues his battle with the courts, his ongoing defiance of gag orders raises questions about how far he will go to push the limits of legal and political norms. Whether or not Trump will heed the court’s warnings remains to be seen, but his fight against the gag order is clearly far from over.
