The judge in Donald Trump’s hush money case has the former president “under his thumb” following a recent gag order hearing. Legal expert Joyce Vance believes that Judge Merchan’s goal is to ensure a fair and impartial trial that leads to a jury verdict that will be affirmed on appeal rather than to put Trump in jail. Trump’s lawyers appear to understand this and Vance notes that the judge may be successful in his efforts to keep Trump in check during the proceedings.
Trump, the first former president in U.S. history to stand trial in a criminal case, is accused of covering up hush money payments and has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. He has repeatedly claimed that the case against him is politically motivated. The prosecution aims to prove that Trump paid or discussed paying two women, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, to not disclose alleged affairs with them before the 2016 presidential election. Trump denies having affairs with either woman.
Judge Merchan previously fined Trump $9,000 for nine violations of a gag order and prosecutors cited four more alleged violations on Thursday. Merchan did not immediately rule on whether to issue further penalties but warned Trump that more action could be taken. He also refused to confirm whether Trump could continue posting about the trial on his social media website, Truth Social. Merchan advised Trump’s lawyers to steer clear if in doubt when it comes to posting about the trial.
The judge’s main focus during the most recent hearing was on an incident where Trump commented on the jury selection process during an interview on Real America’s Voice. Trump expressed his belief that the jury was unfairly selected, leading the judge to question whether Trump had violated the gag order by discussing the jury. Trump’s lawyers argued that he was not discussing individual jurors, but the judge was reportedly unimpressed with this defense. Merchan’s efforts to keep Trump in line and maintain the integrity of the trial are seen as a crucial aspect of ensuring a fair outcome.
Trump’s legal troubles continue to garner attention as he faces the criminal trial involving hush money payments to women prior to the 2016 election. The judge’s efforts to enforce a gag order and prevent Trump from making potentially prejudicial statements about the trial demonstrate a commitment to upholding the principles of fairness and impartiality. The ongoing legal proceedings highlight the complexities of holding a former president accountable in a criminal case and raise questions about the impact of political motivations on the justice system. As the trial progresses, all eyes will be on Judge Merchan and his handling of the case involving Donald Trump.
