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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Graeme Massie

Donald Trump Jr posts photo of hush money judge’s daughter as his father was warned to stop threats

Getty Images

Donald Trump Jr shared on social media a picture of the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan as he claimed that his father was being subjected to a “hand-picked Democrat show trial.”

The former president’s eldest child posted the picture, which was attached to a Breitbart story that claims that the daughter of Judge Merchan worked on the Biden-Harris presidential campaign, on Twitter and Truth Social on Tuesday.

“Seems relevant… yet another connection in this hand picked democrat show trial. The BS never ends folks,” Don Jr posted.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago estate Tuesday, 4 April 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla., after being arraigned earlier in the day in New York City. (AP)

The former president himself then attacked the judge and his family during his Tuesday night speech to supporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate, also pointing out how his daughter worked for Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I have a Trump hating-judge with a Trump-hating wife and family whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris and now receives money from the Biden-Harris campaign,” he said.

Mr Trump said that he “would never forget” what the judge and prosecutors “had done” to his company’s imprisoned former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg.

“It’s right out of the old Soviet Union. That’s where we are,” he said.

Unsupported twitter embed

Mr Trump’ made the inflammatory comments despite the judge earlier warning him to stop making remarks on social media that could lead to trouble or violence.

His words came despite the fact that Judge Merchan warned him to stop making threatening posts on social media that could inflame tensions or incite violence.

But the judge refused to slap a gag order on the case that would prevent Mr Trump from making public comments about it.

Don Jr’s posts came as prosecutors raised concerns during his 45-minute arraignment hearing that Mr Trump’s “threatening” social media posts could have an impact on jurors or witnesses.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office accused Mr Trump’s social media posts of “threatening our city, our justice system, our courts and our office.”

Before the hearing, Mr Trump posted a fake image of him swinging a baseball bat at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s head. He has also previously called Mr Bragg an “animal” on his Truth Social platform.

But Judge Merchan said he would not issue a gag order that would prevent Mr Trump or his lawyers from speaking publicly about the case.

The former president has officially been arraigned on 34 counts of falsifying business records and conspiracy, making him the first former US president to be a defendant in a criminal case.

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