Topline
Former President Donald Trump said Saturday it would be his “great honor” to spend time in jail for violating a gag order in his hush money trial, likening himself to Nelson Mandela in his latest comments criticizing Judge Juan Merchan and other officials involved in his various court cases.
Key Facts
Merchan is “violating the law and the Constitution” by not allowing Trump to criticize court staff of their families, the former president claimed on Truth Social, adding he would “gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela” by spending time “in the ‘clink’ for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH.”
Trump also lashed out at Judge Arthur Engoronfor ordering him to pay over $460 million following a civil fraud trial, calling him a “total lunatic, whack job,” and Judge Lewis Kaplan, who oversaw E. Jean Carroll’s successful defamation case, deriding him as a “crazed bully.”
Merchan expanded his gag order against Trump earlier this week to include banning comments critical of the judge and his family, after the former president claimed on social media Merchan couldn’t be impartial because his daughter worked as an executive at a progressive political consulting firm that counts President Joe Biden as a client.
It’s more likely Trump will face a substantial fine if he violates the gag order, though he could subsequently face jail time, additional charges or other fines if he violates the order again, legal experts told Business Insider.
Trump was fined $5,000 in October for violating a gag order in his civil fraud trial.
Surprising Fact
This isn’t the first time Trump has compared himself to Mandela, who spent 27 years in South African prisons before leading the country out of apartheid rule. In October, Trump described himself as a victim of political persecution and said he wouldn’t “mind being Nelson Mandela,” adding he would be “willing to go to jail if that’s what it takes for our country to win and become a democracy again.” He’s also leaned into framing himself as a political dissident after the prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in February. Trump wrote on Truth Social that Navalny’s mysterious death “made me more and more aware of what is happening in our country,” referencing “grossly unfair courtroom decisions” and “rigged elections.” He also seemingly compared himself to Navalny and Biden to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Key Background
Trump faces charges stemming from alleged payments he made to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels about an affair she claims to have had with the former president. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg requested a gag order against Trump ahead of the start of his trial, citing “dangerous, violent, and reprehensible rhetoric.” Amid his criticism of Merchan, Trump said—without evidence—the judge’s daughter was a “Rabid Trump Hater, who has admitted to having conversations with her father about me.” Trump’s attorneys argued the expanded gag order would exacerbate “the existing and ongoing constitutional violation” the order was already inflicting. Jury selection in the trial is slated to begin April 15.
What To Watch For
Trump’s comments precede a fundraising event for his presidential campaign in Palm Beach, Florida later on Saturday. The event, hosted by billionaire John Paulson, is expected to bring in an estimated $43 million.
Further Reading
Judge Expands Trump Gag Order Following Former President’s Social Media Outbursts (Forbes)
Trump Calls Himself ‘Political Dissident’ At CPAC Speech After Navalny Comparison (Forbes)