The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has reached out to Judge Juan Merchan, requesting clarification on whether the gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump should extend to cover his family members. The prosecutors are worried that Trump's recent remarks, including labeling the judge as biased and targeting his daughter, could generate fear and potential harm towards individuals associated with the case. They emphasize the need for the court to explicitly state that the order safeguards not only the mentioned individuals but also their family members.

In response to the request from the Manhattan DA's Office, Trump's legal team has opposed the idea that the gag order should encompass Trump's family members. They argue that the existing terms of the order do not support the prosecutors' interpretation. Trump's attorneys contend that any attempt to broaden the scope of the gag order would require a more comprehensive legal process that includes full adversarial briefing, indicating their intention to challenge any perceived limitations on Trump's free speech rights, particularly concerning campaign-related speech.

The ongoing legal battle revolves around a hush money case where Trump faces allegations of falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election campaign. The scheduled trial date for the Manhattan DA's case against Trump is set for April 15. Amidst these developments, there is a fundamental disagreement between the prosecution and Trump's defense team regarding the application and interpretation of the gag order, with each side presenting differing views on the constitutional implications and the extent of protection afforded to public speech under the First Amendment.