(TheProudRepublic.com) – During a gag order hearing involving Donald Trump, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan seemed to exhibit a more severe demeanor, as he viciously attacked Todd Blanche, the former president’s lawyer.
The purpose of the hearing was to assess whether Trump had breached a gag order that some deem “unconstitutional,” Breitbart News reports.
This order restricts Trump from publicly discussing trial witnesses, anyone from the District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, court staff, or their families if such statements could significantly disrupt their work on the case. This restriction also extends to prospective jurors.
In the course of the proceedings, it became evident that Justice Merchan allowed the prosecution ample time to present their case that Trump had indeed violated the gag order.
However, the atmosphere shifted when Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, presented the defense.
Observers noted that Justice Merchan became notably less patient and more confrontational.
Blanche contended that Trump’s act of reposting an article on the platform Truth Social did not constitute a violation of the gag order.
“I don’t have any case law to support that, but it’s just common sense, your honor,” Blanche said.
Merchan further probed the difference between posting anew and reposting, seeking specific legal references, which led to an interruption when Blanche attempted to respond.
“Where does it say that? Give me the case law,” Merchan asked.
“Your honor, there’s…” Blanche said but was interrupted.
“Let me ask you, when something is reposted, how does it get onto your client’s Truth Social account?” he asked.
The questioning continued as Merchan pressed for clarity on whether Trump believed his actions skirted the gag order rules.
“I’d like to hear that,” Merchan asserted, showing keen interest in the rationale behind the reposting.
Blanche sought to explain, which prompted Merchan to express his frustration.
“Blanche, you’re losing all credibility. I have to tell you right now, you’re losing all credibility with the court,” the judge said.
“I hate to keep coming back to this, but you’re not offering me anything to support your argument,” Merchan lamented, as cited by The New York Times.
“You’ve presented nothing,” Merchan concluded to Blanche.
Ultimately, Justice Merchan decided not to issue an immediate ruling on the gag order from the bench.
Copyright 2024, TheProudRepublic.com
