Trump dares judge to throw him in jail, 'will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela'

Former President Donald Trump dared the New York judge overseeing his criminal trial in Manhattan to throw him in jail and compared himself to the deceased, former South African leader Nelson Mandela over the gag order in the case.

New York Judge Juan Merchan issued a gag order against Trump last week to prevent the former president from publicly discussing jurors, court staffers, attorneys and their families connected to the criminal hush money case.

"If this Partisan Hack wants to put me in the 'clink' for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH, I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela - It will be my GREAT HONOR," Trump wrote Saturday on Truth Social about Merchan's gag order. Trump is still able to comment on Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, just not their families under the order. 

"We have to Save our Country from these Political Operatives masquerading as Prosecutors and Judges, and I am willing to sacrifice my Freedom for that worthy cause," Trump also wrote. 

In another post Saturday, Trump said Merchan is taking away his First Amendment rights "because he doesn’t want the FACTS behind the Gag to come out."

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges, and he is set to go to trial next week in the case, which focuses on his alleged involvement in hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal ahead of the 2016 election.

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