Donald Trump says he would go to jail for free speech rights but stops short of gag order
Donald Trump said Saturday he would "gladly" go to jail in defense of his free-speech rights – but appeared to stop well short of crossing the red line set by a New York judge.
Trump is under a limited gag order in the so-called New York hush money criminal case that prevents him from speaking out about people involved in the case, including witnesses, jurors and prosecutors, other than the judge.
The missives were harsh and personal — toward presiding Judge Juan Merchan, Judge Arthur Engoron of the civil fraud case against Trump and his business, as well as federal Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over a civil defamation case against Trump — but did not attack witnesses or other court staff.
"If this Partisan Hack wants to put me in the “clink” for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH, I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela — It will be my GREAT HONOR," Trump wrote in the post.
Biden-Harris 2024 Director of Black Media Jasmine Harris ripped Trump's comparison to the legendary South African human rights leader on Saturday afternoon..
“Imagine being so self-centered that you compare yourself to Jesus Christ and Nelson Mandela all within the span of little more than a week: that’s Donald Trump for you,” Harris said in a statement.
Trump's comments come before fundraiser
The posts preceded, by a few hours, a Saturday night fundraiser in which the Trump campaign expected to pocket close to $50 million from a gathering in Palm Beach at the house of hedge fund guru John Paulson.
The former president has long trailed President Joe Biden in fundraising as both men seek another term in the White House.
According to an invitation obtained by USA TODAY, the attendees include a super-wealthy cadre such as Palm Beach County sugar mogul Jose “Pepe” Fanjul as well as Palm Beach resident and former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.
The price of admission on the invitation is $250,000 with a maximum contribution of $814,600, which the Washington Post has reported lands a seat at Trump's table.
Biden-Harris 2024 reports first-quarter money haul
On Saturday, President Joe Biden's campaign said it raised more than $187 million in the first quarter of 2024, including more than $90 million last month alone.
"This historic fundraising operation continues to break monthly grassroots fundraising records through the first three months of 2024 — an indication of enthusiasm, strength, and Team Biden-Harris’ historic resources heading into the general election," campaign officials said in a statement. "This first quarter raise is nearly double the unprecedented 2023 fourth-quarter haul of $97 million."
It added: "While Trump cozies up to billionaires tonight to raise his money, Team Biden-Harris’ first-quarter haul was driven by the strength of our grassroots support, which continues to grow month over month."
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Donald Trump says he'd go to jail, compares himself to Nelson Mandela
