ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) being held at The Rosen Shingle Creek on February 26, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Former U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak this evening at CPAC, which began in 1974, as an annual political conference attended by conservative activists and elected officials. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
On Thursday, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) accompanied former President Donald Trump to New York City for part of his criminal trial proceedings.
The former president, who was recently given a gag order by Justice Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over Trump’s trial, has been forbidden from commenting on any matters relating to the case, including family members. Trump has been previously reprimanded for attacking Judge Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan.
Scott joined in on Trump’s remarks against Merchan’s daughter, arguing that it tainted the judge’s impartiality, saying in front of the courthouse: “The judge’s daughter is a political operative and raises money for Democrats.”
Loren, who previously worked at a progressive consulting firm representing Democratic-aligned groups, has also been an avid fundraiser for the Democratic Party.
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In addition, Scott suggested that Trump’s trial was unfair because one of the prosecutors, Matthew Colangelo, had previously worked for the Justice Department. Scott similarly criticized the “lead prosecutor’s wife” for her work as a Democratic donor.
During a Fox News Sunday interview, Scott said, “The Democrats are using the court system to go after and prosecute, criminally, a political opponent. They’re just thugs trying to stop Trump from being able to run for president.”
Scott added, “The judge’s daughter is a big Democratic fundraiser. Everybody involved in this is part of the Democratic machine. It looks horrible.”
While Trump has previously been in trouble for criticizing Merchan’s daughter, the judge has found him accountable for a total of 10 violations of the gag order and threatened the former president with jail time for any future violations.
Not all Republicans agree with this line of attack.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-New York), who represents a swing district, responded to Trump’s attacks, saying, “Families should always be off-limits.”
Other Republicans are expected to trek to the Manhattan courthouse to support the former president.
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