Donald Trump Can't Stop Attacking Judge's Daughter

Former President Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday to criticize New York Judge Juan Merchan and his daughter again this week after a gag order was issued.

Merchan is presiding over Trump's Manhattan case involving alleged hush money payments to adult film star actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has repeatedly denied these claims and pleaded not guilty to all charges. The case is set to go to trial April 15, 2024, in New York.

In Trump's post on Thursday, the former president said, "Judge Juan Merchan is totally compromised, and should be removed from this TRUMP Non-Case immediately. His Daughter, Loren, is a Rabid Trump Hater, who has admitted to having conversations with her father about me, and yet he gagged me.

"She works for Crooked Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, and other Radical Leftists who Campaign on 'Getting Trump,' and fundraise off the 'Biden Indictments' - including this Witch Hunt, which her father 'presides' over, a TOTAL Conflict - and attacking Biden's Political Opponent through the Courts. Former D.A. Cy Vance refused to bring this case, as did all Federal Agencies, including 'Elections'," Trump said.

Newsweek has reached out to Trump's campaign via email and Merchan's chambers via voicemail for comment on Thursday.

In an additional post to Truth Social on Thursday, Trump continued in part, "Virtually every Legal Scholar says it's not a case, has never been brought before, it's not criminal, and it shouldn't exist except for the fact that we have a Biased, Conflicted, and Corrupt Judge and D.A. in charge. Dismiss this ridiculous Non-Case, and MAKE THE AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM GREAT AGAIN!"

Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg told Newsweek on Thursday, "It is as if Trump is daring the Judge to sanction him so Trump can achieve greater martyrdom with his rabid supporters. Another possibility is that Trump wants a war with Judge Merchan, which could lead to more attempts at recusal/disqualification and therefore more delays. It won't work."

On Tuesday, Merchan issued a gag order against the former president barring him from making public statements about potential witnesses, prosecutors and District Attorney staff members, or any prospective jurors involved in the case.

Notably, the former president has been placed under similar gag orders in the past. New York Judge Arthur Engoron previously issued a gag order related to what the former president could say about the court and others in his civil fraud case in New York. U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan also placed restrictions on Trump regarding what he could say about Special Counsel Jack Smith in his federal election subversion case.

Trump also called out Merchan and his daughter on Wednesday saying in part on Truth Social, "Judge Juan Merchan, who is suffering from an acute case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (whose daughter represents Crooked Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, and other Radical Liberals, has just posted a picture of me behind bars, her obvious goal, and makes it completely impossible for me to get a fair trial) has now issued another illegal, un-American, unConstitutional 'order,' as he continues to try and take away my Rights."

Merchan's daughter, Loren Merchan, was the president and partner of progressive political consulting firm Authentic Campaigns, according to a June 2022 wedding announcement in Politico.

According to their website, Authentic Campaigns lists Vice President Kamala Harris' 2020 presidential campaign, the Biden-Harris campaign and California Democrat Adam Schiff's Super Political Action Committee (PAC) all as clients.