LOS ANGELES.–Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, 50, asked Judge Juan Manuel Merchan, presiding over 77-year-old former President Donald Trump’s pending March 25 trial for paying hush money to adult film star Stormy Danies, for a gag order. Bragg shows extreme prejudice against Trump in requesting the gag order, in effect, compromising his Free Speech rights before the trial begins sometime after jury selection starts March 25. “Self regulation is not a viable alternative, as defendant’s recent history make plain,” Bragg said in court papers. What DA can accuse a defendant of violating the law without doing anything? Bragg’s request should be denied by Merchan saying the DA has no cause to make such a request. Bragg claims Trump “has a longstanding and perhaps singular history” of making statements on his Truth Social platform on a variety topics.
Bragg’s request already shows he approaches the case with no presumption of innocence in administering the rule of law.
Expecting Trump to defend himself on his social network, Bragg tries to gain undue advantage in the court of public opinion before jury selection. Bragg made Trump a campaign promise when running for DA in 2021, saying he would do what his predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr. wouldn’t do, prosecute Trump. Making good on his promise, Bragg indicted Trump on 34 felonies in connection with a payment before the 2016 presidential election to Stormy Daniels, something his star witness, convicted felon, disbarred formerTrump personal attorney Michael Cohn claims. Bragg’s decision to file charges against Trump for a 2006 alleged affair, 10 years before he ran for president, is outrageous. Daniels extorted money from Trump before the 2016 presidential election.
Bragg claims Trump violated campaign finance laws in filing 34 felonies against the former president for an alleged affair, having no consequence on the 2016 presidential election. Whatever happened in 2006 between Trump and Stormy Daniels, why has Bragg filed 34 felonies against Trump? Bragg is committed, like other partisan Democrats, to stopping Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Trump finds himself only weeks away from wrapping up the Republican nomination. Bragg’s charges are a clear violation of Trump Constitutional rights as a Republican presidential candidate, requiring all federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the FBI, from interfering in federal elections. Yet Bragg has gone full steam ahead seeking jury selection on March 25. Trump has done nothing to warrant a preemptive gag order by Bragg’s prosecutors.
Trump faces four criminal trials with Bragg’s hush money case first on the docket for Trump, facing racketeering charges in Fulton County, election interference on Jan. 6, 2022 and harboring classified docs at Mar-a-Lago. When it comes to Fani Willis’ racketeering case against Trump it’s teetering on collapse with revelations about Willis’ affair with her lead prosecutor Nathan Wade. When it comes to Special Counsel Jack Smith, he has no evidence that Trump participated in any way with the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Equally spurious is the case against Trump for harboring classified docs. President Joe Biden was just acquitted of doing the same thing, when Special Counsel Robert Hur released his controversial report saying that Biden was too memory impaired to get a conviction. All of the so-called 91 felonies against Trump are equally spurious, clearly as case of election interference.
Democrats and the press have already tried-and-convicted Trump of all charges in liberal newspapers and broadcast outlets, citing anti-Trump pundits proving Trump was guilty on all charges. If Merchan issues a gag order for something Trump hasn’t done, it shows extreme prejudice in Trump Manhattan case. “Today the 2-tiered system of justice implemented against President Trump is on full display, with the request by anther Deranged Democrat prosecutor seeking a restrictive gag order, which, if granted, would impose unconstitutional infringement on President Trump’s First Amendment rights, including his ability to defend himself and the rights of all Americans to hear from President Trump,” said Trump Spokesman Steven Cheung. Does Bragg ask Merchan for a gag order on all the liberal cable news shows that daily provide fake evidence and convict Trump?
Bragg’s case against Trump should be thrown out by Judge Merchan for the extreme prejudice already shown in the case. How can Merchan let Bragg press charges when his predecessor Cyrus Vance Jr. concluded there was insufficient evidence? Does Bragg really think using convicted felon Michael Cohen for his evidence is a case at all? Government’s multiple cases against Trump whether in Manhattan, Atlanta, Washington DC or Miami all have something in common, egregious attempt by the deep state to prevent Trump from running for president. Judge Merchan knows that Trump’s social network pales in comparison to the fake news put out in liberal broadcast and print outlets. If he approves a gag order against Trump, he must issue a gag order against the liberal media mob that reports fake facts daily that show Trump guilty on all the government’s charges.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
