Former US President Trump delivers a speech at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 2, 2024.
Spencer Pratt | Getty Images
Donald Trump said on Saturday he welcomed the prospect of jail time for violating a gag order in his upcoming hush-money trial in New York.
“I would love to be a modern-day Nelson Mandela – it would be a huge honour,” the former president wrote in a lengthy essay. truth society The post attacked New York State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, who is hearing the Trump case.
This is not the first time Trump has likened himself to a martyr while facing a series of criminal charges.
In an October rant against his various lawsuits, the Republican presidential candidate also compared himself to Nelson MandelaFormer President of South Africa, jailed for 27 years for anti-apartheid activities.
Last week, Trump shared a message on Truth Social comparing his legal troubles to Jesus Christ.
Saturday’s tirade came more than a week before the trial is scheduled to begin on April 15.
On that day, a jury will begin a criminal indictment against the former president on 34 counts of falsifying business documents, allegedly to conceal hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
Trump accused Murchin of being compromised by his daughter’s role at a progressive consulting firm working for Democrats.
Trump’s comments on Saturday were among the latest he has posted on social media about the judge’s daughter since Merchant first issued a gag order in late March.
The order prohibits Trump from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and attorneys in the case. He is also barred from speaking publicly about court staff, employees of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and his family. The first gag order was in response to Trump’s repeated requests for the judge to recuse himself.
On March 26, the day after the first gag order was issued, Trump went after Mocha’s daughter on social media.
Shortly thereafter, Murchin agreed to prosecutors’ request to expand the order to prohibit direct attacks on Murchin’s family and the family of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Under the expanded order, Trump can still criticize Merchin and Bragg individually. But he was not allowed to publicly target the family.
Playing with gag orders has become a daily routine for Trump.
In October, Judge Arthur Engoron threatened Trump with jail time and ultimately fined him $10,000 for violating a similar order in a civil case.
President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign seized on Mandela’s remarks on Saturday.
“Imagine being so self-centered that you compare yourself to Jesus Christ and Nelson Mandela in a little over a week: That’s your Donald,” Biden campaign spokesperson Jasmine Harris said Saturday. ·Trump.”
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