In a recent post on his social media platform, Truth Social, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on New York Judge Juan Merchan, who had previously placed him under a gag order in preparation for his hush-money trial in April. Trump demanded immediate sanctions and recusal for the judge, calling the case a "disgrace to our Legal System."

Scheduled to be the first of Trump's four criminal cases to go to trial, the proceedings are set to commence on April 15, coinciding with his campaign as the presumptive Republican nominee for the White House. The trial revolves around allegations that Trump falsely categorized payments to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, as legal fees, while they were actually meant to reimburse Cohen for burying allegations of extramarital affairs during the 2016 election campaign, which Trump won.

Last year, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, a felony with a potential prison sentence of up to four years. Nonetheless, he vehemently denies any wrongdoing. Taking to Truth Social, he expressed his belief that the case was baseless and politically motivated, stating that "all Legal Experts and Scholars universally agree that this is a case that should have never been brought."

Trump further accused the judge of being "highly conflicted" and demanded his recusal, while urging for an immediate dismissal of the case. In Trump's view, the trial was nothing more than a "political, election-interfering witch hunt," orchestrated by the Department of Justice to aid in the reelection of "the worst president in the history of the United States," referring to Joe Biden.

While Newsweek reached out to a Trump spokesperson for comment, a response has not been received as of yet. Similarly, attempts were made to contact Judge Juan Merchan through a spokesperson for New York's state court system for a statement.

Recently, Trump has intensified his attacks on Judge Merchan and his daughter Loren Merchan, whose firm has been involved in campaigns for President Biden and other Democrats. Trump alleged that a social media post by Loren Merchan depicted her desire to see him incarcerated. However, it was clarified by the court spokesperson that the referenced account did not belong to Loren Merchan and had been taken over by someone else after she had deleted it in the past.

These latest developments follow Judge Merchan's recent decision to impose a gag order in the case. While it prohibits Trump from publicly discussing witnesses, prosecutors, court staff, and jurors involved in the trial, it does not restrict comments regarding Merchan's own family or criticism of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is overseeing the prosecution.

As the trial date draws closer, the tension between Trump and Judge Merchan continues to escalate, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle with potential political ramifications.