Trump’s ‘surrogates’ target witnesses and the judge’s daughter. Could their actions put him in jail?

One after the other, in press conferences steps outside a Manhattan courthouse, Donald Trump’s allies have repeated familiar attacks against the daughter of the judge presiding over the criminal case against the former president.

They fired off similar attacks on star witness Michael Cohen, who was testifying in a courtroom 15 floors above them.

Prosecutors are moments away from closing their case, and the judge is eager for the trial to keep moving along without any further interruptions.

But an avalanche of recent attacks seemingly directed by Mr Trump to his lackeys – which include the country’s highest-ranking Republican – could be grounds for severe sanctions against him.

A protective order blocks Mr Trump from “making or directing others to make public statements” about trial witnesses and potential witnesses, jurors and prospective jurors, attorneys, court staff and their families.

Asked by reporters inside the courthouse on Tuesday if he is “directing” those attacks, he didn’t exactly deny it.

“I do have a lot of surrogates and they are speaking very beautifully,” he said. “They come from all over Washington, and they’re highly respected and they think this is the biggest scam they’ve ever seen.”

The former president also appeared to read through their attacks and take notes while seated inside the courtroom.

Mr Trump has already violated the gag order 10 times, racking up $10,000 in fines. New York Justice Juan Merchan has warned the defendant that financial penalties don’t seem to be working as a deterrent, and any future violations could result in jail time.

He could be held in contempt, again, if prosecutors can show to the judge that Mr Trump is directing his supporters to violate the gag and fuelling