Former President Donald Trump faces a legal showdown with Judge Juan Merchan over alleged violations of a gag order in his hush money case, prompting a legal analyst to assert that Trump is “under his thumb.”
The tensions between Trump and Judge Merchan escalated during a recent hearing, where Trump was fined $9,000 for violating the gag order, with prosecutors bringing forward additional alleged violations.
Despite Trump’s plea of not guilty to the charges, the case centers on allegations of paying or discussing payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep quiet about alleged affairs before the 2016 presidential election.
More Read
Judge Merchan’s efforts to ensure a fair trial have been underscored by legal analyst Joyce Vance, who noted that Trump’s lawyers seem to recognize the judge’s influence.
During the hearing, Merchan warned Trump’s legal team of potential further penalties and advised caution regarding Trump’s social media posts about the trial.
One particular incident that caught Merchan’s attention was Trump’s commentary on Real America’s Voice, where he criticized the composition of the jury, raising concerns about fairness.
Despite Trump’s lawyers arguing that he did not violate the gag order, Merchan expressed skepticism, indicating a firm stance on maintaining the integrity of the trial process.
