Trump slams 'highly conflicted' judge over gag order in 'hush money' trial

Former President Donald Trump criticized New York State Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday over the gag order he imposed in his "hush money" trial.

"HIGHLY CONFLICTED, TO PUT IT MILDLY, JUDGE JUAN MERCHAN, HAS TAKEN AWAY MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. EVERYBODY IS ALLOWED TO TALK AND LIE ABOUT ME, BUT I AM NOT ALLOWED TO DEFEND MYSELF. THIS IS A KANGAROO COURT, AND THE JUDGE SHOULD RECUSE HIMSELF!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump has previously sought Merchan's recusal on two occasions over his daughter's employment with Authentic, a left-wing media firm that boasts both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as clients. Merchan previously denied both bids for recusal.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has charged Trump with falsifying business records as part of an alleged scheme to conceal allegations of affairs brought by Stormy Daniels and other women during the 2016 Republican primary and presidential campaign.

Merchan issued the gag order earlier this month, prohibiting the former president and presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee from publicly attacking witnesses and jurors.

The trial began Monday and Bragg's office is seeking the maximum $1,000 fine for each of the 10 Truth Social posts it says violated the gag order and another one telling Trump to remove the posts from his social media platform, according to NBC News. He also has also asked Merchan to warn Trump that any future violations could put him at risk of going to jail for up to 30 days. 

Trump attorney Todd Blanche asserted that his client had not violated the April 1 order.