Prosecutors argue Trump "willfully and flagrantly" violated gag order, seek penalty
CBSN
Prosecutors on Tuesday alleged that former President Donald Trump violated a gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan in his New York criminal trial, saying Trump's "attacks" have "willfully and flagrantly" violated the order.
Trump's attorney Todd Blanche argued Tuesday that his client "very carefully" tried to comply with the rules of the order, but Merchan responded that Blanche was "losing all credibility with the court."
On March 26, Merchan issued the gag order intended to limit Trump's public statements, saying Trump had made statements that were "threatening, inflammatory, denigrating" toward public servants. The order bars Trump from commenting or causing others to comment on potential witnesses in the case, prospective jurors, court staff, lawyers in the district attorney's office and the relatives of any counsel or court staffer.
When Los Angeles Police Department officers in riot gear arrived at the University of California, Los Angeles early Thursday, the anonymous messaging app Sidechat filled with posts trying to piece together what was happening: "Is everyone ok? I just heard like 8 cop cars go by," one post read. Others shared rumors about police action and outside agitators and pointed students to live streams to watch the events unfold.