Two weeks ahead of the start of Donald Trump's New York hush money trial, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is urging the court to expand the partial gag order placed on the ex-president on Tuesday, March 26.
Bragg's request comes after the MAGA hopeful attacked presiding Judge Juan Merchan and his daughter, Loren Merchan — a political consultant whose firm has worked on Democratic campaigns — several times in the last week on social media.
According to an exclusive Monday, April 1 Rolling Stone report, several sources familiar with Trump say the former president is confident he can continue to get away with the attacks without consequence.
READ MORE: 'Reprehensible rhetoric': Manhattan DA urges judge to expand Trump’s gag order
"He’s privately boasted, he has tested judges and prosecutors on gag orders before — without any serious repercussions," Rolling Stone notes, and believes he'll continue to curb any consequences in the hush money trial case, two people who've spoken to Trump told the publication.
"A criminal trial is different than a civil one, so this could turn out differently," one source told Rolling Stone, referring to Trump's success with dodging a night in jail despite his conduct during his New York civil fraud trial last year. "But from talking to [Trump] about this… you can tell he thinks these guys have tried to be tough guys, tried to rattle him, and then, it was all talk. He’s said this time it’s the same: He has to show he’s not afraid of these people, simple as that."
Additionally, Rolling Stone reports Trump and his lawyers have attempted to claim Loren Merchan's work is enough to call for her father's "recusal from the case."
Furthermore, Trump attorneys have "indicated they plan to request permission to formally demand Merchan’s recusal, writing that 'Trump is simultaneously submitting a pre-motion letter seeking leave to file a recusal motion based on changed circumstances and newly discovered evidence.'"
READ MORE: Legal expert details why Hope Hicks will be such a 'compelling' witness in hush money case
Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung told Rolling Stone, "These sources don’t know what the f—k they’re talking about."
*Rolling Stone's full report is here (subscription required).*
