On May 30, 2024, former U.S. President Trump was interviewed by the media after being found guilty after a hush money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City.
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A New York judge on Tuesday lifted part of a gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump in a criminal hush-money case but kept some restrictions in place until Trump is sentenced.
Judge Juan Melchan’s decision Two days ago, Trump was set to face off against President Joe Biden in the first of two presidential debates.
Merchin lifted part of a gag order that barred Trump from making public statements about witnesses or jurors in his Manhattan Supreme Court trial, which ended on May 30 when Trump was convicted on 34 criminal counts.
But Merchin ruled that Trump is still bound by the order not to speak about attorneys and staff in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and courthouses, or any of their family members, if those comments could interfere with the case. Trump was allowed to talk about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Merchin wrote that the speech restrictions are “overwhelmingly supported by the record,” noting that two appeals courts in New York rejected Trump’s efforts to appeal the gag order.
“However, the situation has now changed,” the judge wrote. “The trial portion of these proceedings ends with the verdict and the appearance of the jury.”
Merchant wrote that his “strong preference” would be to expand protections for jurors, adding that “there is ample evidence to justify continued concern for jurors.” While he lifted the gag order, The judge ruled that a ban on disclosure of juror information would remain in effect until further notice.
The trial centers on accusations that Trump falsified business records as part of a scheme to cover up a hush-money payment shortly before the 2016 presidential election to porn star Stormy Daniels, who said she had a sexual relationship with Trump years ago .
Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.
Trump expressed anger over the gag order when it was first imposed on March 26, about three weeks before the trial was to begin. Less than a week later, Trump expanded the gag order after he repeatedly targeted the judge’s adult daughter for her work at a Democratic political firm.
Trump violated gag order ten times during historic trial. Mocha has repeatedly held Trump in contempt of court and warned him that future abuses could land him in jail. The judge also ordered Trump to pay a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung criticized Merchin in a statement on Tuesday for refusing to lift the entire gag order.
“This is yet another illegal decision by a highly conflicted judge, which is clearly un-American as it casts doubt on President Trump, the leading candidate for the 2024 presidential election, in Thursday’s upcoming presidential debate,” Zhang said. Gagging was performed.
Trump’s legal team “will immediately challenge” the order, Zhang said.
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