Trump livid over gag order, 'sophisticated hit job' as NY trial progresses

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed frustrations over a gag order in his ongoing criminal trial and further contended that the judge and two others based in New York were part of a "sophisticated hit job" against him spearheaded by the White House.

"It is a really bad feeling to have your Constitutional Right to Free Speech, such a big part of life in our Country, so unfairly taken from you, especially when all of the sleazebags, lowlifes, and grifters that you oppose are allowed to say absolutely anything that they want," he posted on Truth Social. "It is hard to sit back and listen to lies and false statements be made against you knowing that if you respond, even in the most modest fashion, you are told by a Corrupt and Highly Conflicted Judge that you will be PUT IN PRISON, maybe for a long period of time."

Trump made the remarks one day after Stormy Daniels testified in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's criminal case over allegedly falsifying business records. The case hinges on a 2016 payment Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen. Trump has pleaded not guilty and previously sought the recusal of Judge Juan Merchan, who has imposed a gag order on him in the case.

"This Fascist mindset is all coming from D.C. It is a sophisticated hit job on Crooked Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, ME!. Judges Engoron and Kaplan, also of New York, are equally Corrupt, only in different ways," he continued. "What these THUGS are doing is AN ATTACK ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND OUR ONCE GREAT NATION ITSELF. OUR FIRST AMENDMENT MUST STAND, FREE AND STRONG. 'GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!'"

Trump's reference to Judges Arthur Engoron and Lewis Kaplan refer to the judges in his civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James and a defamation case from writer E. Jean Carroll, respectively.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.