Most people whoโve just been indicted and are facing a litany of other legal battles would keep a low profile. But Donald Trump isnโt most people. After pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts, Trump flew to Mar-a-Lago to deliver a rant against the Manhattan District Attorney, Democrats, the judge in this case, and the judgeโs family.
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Typically, attacking the judge presiding over your case is a no-go since who wants to piss off the person with your fate in their hands? But naturally, that didnโt stop the former-President. โI have a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris,โ said Trump at his rally. Even before this rally, Trump attacked Bragg calling the first Black Manhattan DA, a reverse racist and claiming that โdeath and destructionโ would follow if the grand jury indicted him.
Aside from the blatant misinformation, it begs the question, what is Trumpโs end-game here? Thereโs the obvious strategy of drumming up his base. But could there be a secondary motive at play?
Former San Francisco Prosecutor Paul Henderson has a theory. โI believe that he did that to try to get a gag order. He wants to not talk about it,โ says Henderson.
For those who donโt know, a โgag orderโ is a legal order issued by a judge that makes it so a case can not be discussed publicly. And although we hate to give Trumpโs ranting too much credit, in this instance, Hendersonโs theory could hold some water.
The facts of this case donโt look good for Trump, and he knows it, says Henderson. So the fewer people who are allowed to talk about the facts this close to the Republican primary, the better for Trump.
โIโm hoping that we continue with restrictions that allow the public to understand and know whatโs happening,โ says Henderson, who served as a prosecutor under Kamala Harris. โBecause we know Donald Trumpโs allies will interpret that in a way thatโs not tethered to the truth about whatโs happening. And no one will be allowed to defend themselves if thereโs a gag order.โ
On Tuesday, Justice Juan M. Merchan came close to issuing a gag order, says Henderson, adding, โThe judge is loathed to do it because the judge wants people to have transparency in the system,โ he says.ย (There are also some legal concerns about effectively muzzling a presidential candidate).
That doesnโt mean the threats made by Trump against Bragg and others arenโt serious, he says. โI think the threats are real, and they bother me,โ says Henderson, โin particular, because youโre targeting not just the DA. Trump has specifically talked about the judge and his wife.โ
Time will tell if the judge decides heโs had enough of Trumpโs incessant ranting, but sadly that might be precisely what Trump wants.
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