Donald Trump’s Lawyers Request For Gag Order To Be Lifted

Attorneys for Donald Trump have requested that a New York judge break the gag order that prevented the former US president from discussing jurors, witnesses, and other parties connected to the criminal case that resulted in his conviction for forging documents to conceal a possible s*x scandal.

Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, Trump’s attorneys, requested in a letter dated Tuesday that Judge Juan M. Merchan vacate the order, citing the lack of evidence to support “continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights of former President Trump” now that the trial is over.

Given President Joe Biden’s remarks regarding the verdict, as well as the ongoing public criticism of Trump by his former attorney Michael Cohen and porn star Stormy Daniels—both significant prosecution witnesses—the lawyers said that Trump is entitled to “unrestrained campaign advocacy.”

Additionally, they argue that the gag order should be lifted so he can speak candidly about the case and his conviction at the first presidential debate on June 27. The district attorney’s office in Manhattan has not responded to requests for comment.

A few weeks before the trial began, on March 26, the presumed Republican presidential nominee’s tendency to disparage those connected to his cases alarmed the prosecution, which is why a gag order was imposed.

The judge later extended it to forbid remarks about his own family following Trump’s attacks on the judge’s daughter, a Democratic political strategist, on social media.

Though statements regarding court employees and Mr. Bragg’s prosecution team are prohibited by the gag order, remarks about Mr. Merchan and District Attorney Alvin Bragg are permitted.

On Thursday, Trump was found guilty on 34 charges of fabricating business documents, which originated from an alleged effort by the prosecution to conceal a payment of hush money to Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. Trump disputes her allegation that they had a sexual encounter ten years prior.

He is due to be sentenced on July 11. To “protect the integrity of this criminal proceeding and avoid prejudice to the jury,” the prosecution had stated that they were seeking the gag order. The judge stated in the judgment that the limits were requested by the prosecution “for the duration of the trial.” When they would be lifted was not stated by him.

On Friday, Mr. Blanche stated that he would look for clarification, which he did on Tuesday, and that he understood the gag order would end when the trial concluded.

“It’s a little bit of the theatre of the absurd at this point, right? Michael Cohen is no longer a witness in this trial,” he said. “The trial is over. The same thing with all the other witnesses. So, we’ll see. I don’t mean that in any way as being disrespectful of the judge and the process. I just want to be careful and understand when it no longer applies.”

Trump has continued to operate under the belief that he’s still muzzled, telling reporters on Friday at Trump Tower: “I’m under a gag order, nasty gag order.”

Referring to Mr. Cohen, Trump said: “I’m not allowed to use his name because of the gag order” before slamming his former lawyer-turned-courtroom foe as “a sleazebag”.

Throughout the trial, Mr. Merchan penalized the former president $10,000 for breaking the gag order, placed him in contempt of court, and threatened to put him in jail if he broke the order again.

Gentle Reminder: Be careful how you use your authority and influence, be wise, and treat others with respect.

Chychy Jonas