Trump had an instant meltdown at the Truth Social after the judge admonished him like a renegade child

[ad_1]

Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a judge “violated” his First Amendment rights by clarifying the terms of a protective order restricting Trump’s use of evidence in his hush-hush lawsuit.

Trump barely appeared for a hearing Tuesday before Judge Juan Manuel Merchan, who is overseeing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s 34-count indictment against Trump for his role in wire payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels’ 2016 presidential campaign, was scheduled earlier this month after establishing rules that prevent the former president from using evidence in the case to attack witnesses or make a public spectacle.

“It’s certainly not a gag order. It’s certainly not my intention in any way to impede Mr. Trump’s ability to campaign. He’s certainly free to deny the charges he’s free to make about anything that doesn’t violate in the specific terms of this order of protection. ,” the judge said, according to The Daily Beast.

However, Merchan advised the former president that rescinding the protection order could create many legal issues, including fines or jail time.

“Breaching a court order or a court order can result in penalties. There’s a wide range of penalties, but it can include up to a finding of contempt, and that’s punishable,” he said.

NPR reported that Trump, who was speaking from his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida, spoke only once during the hearing, saying “I do” when asked if he had a copy of the order.

However, not long after the hearing, Trump took to Truth Social what he felt was a violation of his First Amendment rights.

“There was just a hearing in the Supreme Court of New York County where I believe my First Amendment Rights, ‘Freedom of Speech,’ were violated, and they forced us to a trial date of March 25th, in the middle Primary season itself,” Trump wrote. .”Very unfair, but this is exactly what the Radical Left Democrats wanted. It’s called ELECTION INTERFERENCE, and nothing like this has ever happened in our Country!!!”

During the hearing, Trump’s lead defense attorney, Todd Blanche, pushed for Merchan’s protection order, arguing that “because President Trump is running for president of the United States and he’s the current leading opponent… he’s very is concerned that his First Amendment rights are being violated by this order.”

The order, signed by the judge on May 8, states that any evidence shared by the DA “shall be used only for the purposes of preparing a defense,” barring Trump from sharing case materials online with any capacity. Additionally, Merhcan wrote that Trump is only allowed to “review limited dissemination materials only in the presence of defense counsel.”

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Former US Attorney Harry Litman observed that “Mechan treated Trump like a truant child.”

“Merchan seemed very firm with Trump at today’s hearing informing him and counsel that if there is any violation of the discovery order, it will be for him (Merchan) to handle, including possible criminal contempt,” he wrote on Twitter. .

CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen warned that Trump faces a “grave danger” after being “lectured by the judge” because he is “undisciplined.”

“If he violates the order, he will now face serious consequences,” he tweeted.

Since Bragg’s investigation began gaining significant traction, the former president has unleashed a barrage of vitriol and personal attacks online. In March, he floated “death and destruction” in an early-morning Truth Social rant before his indictment, calling Bragg a “degenerate psychopath who truly hates the USA.” Last month, Trump targeted Merchan in another Truth Social tirade, calling him “highly partisan” and saying his family were “known Trump haters.”

In March, Trump referred to the case as a “witch hunt,” saying Merchan hated him.

“Judge ‘assigned’ my Witch Hunt Case, a ‘Case’ NEVER CHARGED BEFORE, HATES ME,” Trump wrote. “His name is Juan Manuel Marchan, was chosen by Bragg & the Prosecutors, and he is also the person who ‘railroaded’ my 75 year old former CFO, Allen Weisselberg, to take a ‘plea’ deal (Plead GUILTY , even if you don’t, 90 DAYS, fight us in Court, 10 years (life!) in prison. He heavily armed Allen, which a judge shouldn’t do, and treated my companies, who didn’t ‘beg,’ WELL.”

Read more

about Trump’s legal problems

[ad_2]