Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) is demanding a criminal investigation into New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan for allegedly violating former President Donald Trump’s First Amendment rights during his trial. Vance claims Merchan’s enforcement of gag orders deprived Trump of his ability to question witnesses, challenge prosecutors, and address the judge’s perceived bias. The senator cites two statutes that could be used to pursue Merchan, one preventing conspiracies against federally protected rights and another prohibiting the willful deprivation of constitutional rights.