‘You’re losing all credibility’: Judge scolds Trump attorneys over Truth Social defence in gag order hearing

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminaltrial in New York appeared unconvinced with his attorney’s defence against allegations that the former president repeatedly and willfully violated a gag order that prevents him from attacking witnesses.

Manhattan prosecutors have accused Mr Trump of at least 10 different posts on his Truth Social platform and campaign website targeting Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels – likely witnesses in the so-called hush money trial underway in a Manhattan courtroom.

Defence attorney Todd Blanche has argued that Mr Trump’s posts were responding to “political” attacks but failed to offer up any examples of what, exactly, Mr Trump was responding to.

“You presented nothing,” New York Justice Juan Merchan, growing increasingly frustrated with Mr Blanche’s defence, said at the conclusion of an hour-long hearing on Tuesday.

“You’re losing all credibility, I’ll tell you that right now,” he added.

Lawyers with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office have argued that Mr Trump violated a nearly month-old gag order in the case at least 10 times. On the trial’s second day, while jury selection was underway, the judge also warned Mr Trump directly against intimidating jurors in his courtroom.

Prosecutors want the judge to hold Mr Trump in contempt, fine him $10,000, and order him to remove the offending posts.

They are “not yet” asking for jail time.

Judge Merchan will issue a decision at another time.

On his Truth Social on 15 April, Mr Trump took aim at Mr Cohen, posting a column fromThe New York Post that labelled him a “serial perjurer” who “will try to prove an old misdemeanor against Trump in an embarrassment for the New York legal system.”

Mr Trump’s campaign website also posted the