Trump lashes out at Judge Juan Merchan for refusing presidential immunity in hush money case

WASHINGTON DC: Donald Trump lashed out at Justice Juan Merchan after the judge rejected his claim that a recent Supreme Court decision nullified his hush money case in New York.

Trump, who faces felony convictions, criticized Judge Merchan’s ruling as a violation of his presidential immunity.

Donald Trump accuses Judge Juan Merchan of defying Supreme Court ruling

Justice Juan Merchan on Monday, December 16, upheld the jury’s verdict against Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.

Trump and his legal team argue that the US Supreme Court’s recent decision, which grants presidents immunity for official acts, should lead to the case being thrown out.

The Supreme Court also rejected Trump’s request to lift a gag order imposed by Judge Merchan.

The order prevents Trump from publicly commenting on witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, or court staff and their families, though it does not apply to the judge himself, per Raw Story. 

Reacting to the ruling, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "BREAKING: In a completely illegal, psychotic order, the deeply conflicted, corrupt, biased, and incompetent Acting Justice Juan Merchan has completely disrespected the United States Supreme Court, and its Historic Decision on Immunity."

Trump described the case as a "Rigged Hoax" and claimed it lacked legitimacy.

Donald Trump calls Judge Juan Merchan’s ruling 'unlawful'

The president-elect further criticized Justice Juan Merchan’s handling of the case, accusing the judge of being a partisan figure.

Trump wrote, "Merchan, who is a radical partisan, wrote an opinion that is knowingly unlawful, goes against our Constitution, and, if allowed to stand, would be the end of the Presidency as we know it."

The former president also reiterated his objections to the gag order, calling it a violation of his rights.

"Merchan has so little respect for the Constitution that he is keeping in place an illegal gag order on me, your President and President-Elect, just so I cannot expose his and his family’s disqualifying and illegal conflicts," Trump wrote.

He also argued that he was being denied the right to defend himself, stating, "I am the only Political Opponent in American History not allowed to defend myself - A despicable First Amendment Violation!"

Donald Trump slams Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's 'witch hunt', says it's time to end 'lawfare'

Donald Trump called the hush money case a witch hunt supported by Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg.

"Merchan took the Manhattan DA’s Witch Hunt, that, according to all Legal Scholars...and many others, is a nonexistent case, barred by the Statute of Limitations, and should have never been brought and, through his fraud and misconduct, gave it a semblance of “life.”

He also lashed at Special Counsel Jack Smith calling him deranged, saying he "was sent packing back to The Hague after losing all of his politically manufactured cases against me."

Trump added, "Merchan, who is far worse and even more corrupt than Smith in his fight for my hopeless political opponents, just cannot let go of this charade."

He concluded, "This has to stop! It is time to end the Lawfare once and for all, so we can come together as one Nation and, Make America Great Again."