3 weeks ago
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., eviscerated a New York judge's determination to enforce thousands of dollars of fines connected erstwhile President Trump for violating a gag order, calling nan move "disgusting."
According to nan apical Trump-endorser and imaginable vice statesmanlike pick, nan judge is "getting free of his First Amendment rights."
"It is really limiting our state of look arsenic Americans," he told Fox News Digital successful an interview.
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Sen. Tim Scott slammed a New York judge for imposing $9,000 successful fines connected erstwhile President Trump for violating a gag order. (Getty Images)
Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding successful the New York v. Trump proceedings successful Manhattan, levied 9 fines, $1,000 per post, that violated his gag order, against Trump connected Tuesday. The fines amounted to $9,000 for nan erstwhile president. The gag bid bars Trump from discussing witnesses and family members of tribunal officials publicly.
Trump's defense based on that nan bid violated his First Amendment rights, which Scott echoed connected Tuesday.
"This tribunal strategy successful New York, for illustration nan DOJ, [is] really targeting Republicans [and] defending Democrats," nan legislator claimed.
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Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower connected his measurement to Manhattan Criminal Court, April 15, 2024, successful New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
He added that, fortunately, Trump was "hardwired for nan accent and pressure" that comes pinch nan cases he faces arsenic a consequence of "a two-tiered justness system."
Scott warned that if it weren't Trump being unfairly stripped of free reside rights, it could beryllium mean Americans. "President Trump rises to nan occasion," because he knows this, he said.
According to nan South Carolina Republican, people, including Trump, should "of course" person nan expertise and correct "to talk astir nan challenges that he faces successful a spot wherever 96% of nan group don't work together pinch his authorities aliases who he is."
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Former President Trump and Judge Juan Merchan (Angela Weiss/AFP via AP | Pool/AP)
Scott besides claimed nan gag bid enforcement and fines are not related to "the existent case."
"This is astir making a determination of who nan adjacent president of nan United States will be," he said, reiterating Trump's declare that nan various indictments and tribunal proceedings against him up of nan 2024 predetermination are a shape of electoral interference.
Trump's run referred Fox News Digital to nan erstwhile president's Truth Social station astir nan gag bid and fines. "This Judge has taken distant my Constitutional Right to FREE SPEECH. I americium nan only Presidential Candidate successful History to beryllium GAGGED. This full ‘Trial’ is RIGGED, and by taking distant my FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THIS HIGHLY CONFLICTED JUDGE IS RIGGING THE PRESIDENTIAL OF 2024 ELECTION. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!" he wrote.
Fox News Digital reached retired to nan New York authorities tribunal strategy for comment.
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Former President Trump listens arsenic Sen. Tim Scott speaks astatine a superior predetermination nighttime statement astatine nan South Carolina State Fairgrounds successful Columbia, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Scott has been named by Trump arsenic a contender for his moving mate going into nan November predetermination against Biden, moreover remarking that nan South Carolina legislator is "a overmuch better" advocator for him than Scott was for himself during his ain statesmanlike bid.
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Fox News precocious confirmed that Trump is hosting a awesome philanthropist retreat later this week successful Palm Beach, Florida. The retreat will characteristic respective well-known Republicans who are wide regarded arsenic imaginable moving mates, including Scott.
Some of nan different 16 typical guests listed for nan arena see Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, and JD Vance of Ohio, Govs. Doug Burgum of North Dakota and Kristi Noem of South Dakota, and Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York and Byron Donalds of Florida.
Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Julia Johnson is simply a authorities writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, starring sum of nan U.S. Senate. She was antecedently a authorities newsman astatine nan Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia's reporting connected X astatine @JuliaaJohnson_ and nonstop tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
