The judge in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case in New York has granted the Manhattan district attorney’s request for a limited gag order on the former president.
The order, by Judge Juan Merchan, restricts Trump’s public statements about witnesses and others.
Statements made by Trump about witnesses, prosecutors, judges and others tied to his criminal and civil cases “were threatening, inflammatory, denigrating” and represent “a sufficient risk to the administration of justice,” Judge Merchan said Tuesday in deciding to impose the partial gag order.
“The consequences of those statements included not only fear on the part of the individual targeted, abut also the assignment of increased security resources to investigate threats and protect the individuals and family members thereof,” Merchan said.
The order prevents Trump from making public statements about witnesses in the hush money case, prospective jurors, members of the court staff and their families, and lawyers other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The partial gag order follows Trump’s disparaging remarks about Merchan and his daughter after the judge on Monday rejected Trump’s bid for a delay and set the trial date for April 15.
“Such inflammatory extrajudicial statements undoubtedly risk impending the orderly administration of this Court,” Merchan said, adding “there exists no less restrictive means to prevent such risk.”
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Forum River Center in Rome, Georgia, on March 9, 2024.
Alyssa Pointer/Reuters
Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election. The former president has denied all wrongdoing.
“Given that the eve of trial is upon us, it is without question that the immanency of the risk of harm is now paramount,” the judge said in his ruling Tuesday.
Also Tuesday, Trump again sought to delay the trial, seeking a new delay based on “exceptionally prejudicial pretrial publicity.”
Trump’s attorneys argued in a court filing that “potential jurors in Manhattan have been exposed to huge amounts of biased and unfair media coverage relating to this case,” particularly, they said, the new documentary about Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
Defense attorneys did not say when the trial should start — only that it should not begin “until the prejudicial press coverage abates.”
“President Trump’s constitutional right to a fair trial is at stake,” defense attorney Todd Blanche argued. “Many of the potential jurors already wrongfully believe that President Trump is guilty.”
Jury selection for the trial is currently scheduled to get underway April 15 in New York City.
In a recent development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding President Donald Trump’s involvement in hush money payments to two women, a judge in New York has placed a limited gag order on the president. The order, issued by Judge Victor Marrero of the Southern District of New York, restricts Trump and his legal team from making public statements about the case outside of the courtroom.
The case in question revolves around payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal in exchange for their silence about alleged affairs with Trump. The payments were made by Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, who has since pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and other charges.
The limited gag order comes after Trump and his legal team made a series of public statements about the case, including denials of any wrongdoing and attacks on Cohen’s credibility. Judge Marrero expressed concern that these statements could prejudice potential jurors and interfere with the fair administration of justice.
While the gag order is limited in scope, it represents a significant development in the case. Trump, known for his outspoken and often combative approach to legal matters, will now be required to exercise caution when discussing the hush money payments in public.
Legal experts have noted that gag orders are not uncommon in high-profile cases, particularly when there is a risk of prejudicing potential jurors. In this case, the judge likely issued the order to ensure a fair trial and protect the integrity of the legal process.
It remains to be seen how Trump will comply with the gag order and whether it will have any impact on the outcome of the case. The president’s legal team has indicated that they will abide by the order, but it is unclear how this will affect their defense strategy moving forward.
Overall, the limited gag order placed on Trump in the New York hush money case represents a significant development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the president. It highlights the importance of maintaining impartiality and fairness in the judicial process, even in cases involving high-profile individuals like Trump.
