Mary Trump's Stark Warning to Donald After Reinstated Gag Order

Former President Donald Trump's estranged niece, Mary Trump, is warning that "jail is next" for Donald after his gag order, barring him from commenting on court personnel, was reinstated by an appeals court in New York City on Thursday.

Earlier this month, a state appellate court judge temporarily froze two gag orders that New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron imposed on Trump amid his $250 million civil fraud trial brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The appellate court lifted them until it heard a full appeal from Trump's lawyers, who wanted the gag orders removed. On Thursday, Engoron commented on the ruling that he intends to enforce it "rigorously and vigorously," according to the Associated Press (AP).

Previously, Trump attacked Engoron's longtime law clerk, Alison Greenfield, on social media, and Engoron fined him twice after the insults. Trump also called Greenfield "very partisan," to reporters outside the New York courtroom, which was in violation of the gag order imposed on the former president banning him from publicly talking about court staff.

Trump's attorney, Chris Kise, said he was aware of the ruling on Thursday, adding, it's "a tragic day for the rule of law," according to AP. Trump, the front-runner in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has denied any wrongdoing amid the fraud lawsuit and has called the trial politically motivated.

Newsweek has reached out to Trump's campaign via email for comment Thursday evening.

After the court ruling, Mary Trump took to her Substack channel, saying she believes her uncle is heading to jail because of his "massive ego and insecurity." Mary said she came to this conclusion after consulting with Joe Gallina, moderator with the Call To Activism group that promotes Democratic Party candidates.

"Donald's massive ego and insecurity make him unable to follow this order. My family and I have seen this compulsion first hand. When he is under pressure, he has zero self control," she said.

"Now that one of the two gag orders has been reinstated with stiff penalties, it's only a matter of time before he will violate it. He can't help himself," Mary Trump continued.

Concluding, the ex-president's niece wrote, "If Judge Engoron actually enforces Donald's gag order 'rigorously and vigorously,' then Donald is on notice. What will be his own self-inflicted blow that finally lands him behind bars? It's time to grab a seat with me, and break out the [popcorn]."

Michael McAuliffe, former federal prosecutor and ex-elected state attorney, told Newsweek via email, "The New York appellate court reviewed the recent filings and made the decision to reinstate the limited gag order in the state civil fraud case. The move is unambiguous and the trial judge put the parties on notice that he'll enforce the revived gag order.

It certainly should impact how the defendants make statements that arguably fall under the order, but there is a high likelihood of a violation occurring. The big, open issue may be what penalties, if any, can be effective if and when Trump violates the order."

Alan Dershowitz, emeritus professor of law at Harvard Law School and former Trump attorney, also told Newsweek via email on Thursday that the reinstated gag order was "Not fair or constitutional but he has to comply and appeal."