In the wake of Judge Juan Merchan slapping him with a contempt of court ruling, Donald Trump took to Truth Social and slammed the ruling — and the ensuing $9,000 fine — as a ploy to take away his First Amendment right to free speech.
Merchan ruled earlier Tuesday that Trump violated a gag order in his New York hush money criminal trial in at least nine separate instances. As a result, Trump will be fined $1,000 for each violation and was forced to remove the offending posts that violated the gag order from his Truth Social page.
Minutes after those posts disappeared, a new one emerged.
"This Judge has taken away my Constitutional Right to FREE SPEECH. I am the only Presidential Candidate in History to be GAGGED. This whole 'Trial' is RIGGED, and by taking away my FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THIS HIGHLY CONFLICTED JUDGE IS RIGGING THE PRESIDENTIAL OF 2024 ELECTION. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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Merchan warned Trump that he could be thrown in jail if he continues to violate his gag order.
The order imposed on Trump was fairly permissive and allowed him to criticize Merchan, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and the charges against him. Trump is however prohibited from disparaging potential witnesses, juror, court staff and their families.
Trump is facing 34 charges related to an alleged hush money payment to adult movie star Stormy Daniels, with whom he's accused of having a sexual relationship. Trump allegedly covered up the payments by falsifying business records.
He denies all the charges.
Trump and his lawyers argued that he did not violate the gag order because he was simply re-sharing criticisms of witness and his former lawyer Michael Cohen posted by other people and news outlets.
Trump has previously been issued sanctions for violating gag orders in his civil trials, which resulted in thousands of dollars in fines.