The judge who oversaw Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial in Manhattan agreed to partially lift a gag order on the former president Tuesday, granting Trump the ability to speak freely about witnesses in the case and the jury that found him guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
“Circumstances have now changed,” Judge Juan Merchan wrote Tuesday. “The trial portion of these proceedings ended when the verdict was rendered, and the jury discharged.”
Trump last month was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
During the trial, Trump and his attorneys repeatedly bemoaned a stipulation in the judge’s limited gag order that prevented him from publicly responding to commentary about the case from witnesses in the proceedings, most notably Daniels and Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen.
Merchan restricted what Trump could say publicly about them and others involved in the case out of concern for the integrity of the trial.
The judge’s ruling Tuesday left in place the portion of the gag order protecting members of the court staff, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s staff, and their families.
Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Liacouras Center on June 22, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
“Until sentence is imposed, all individuals covered by Paragraph (b)” — referring to members of the court staff, the district attorney’s staff and their families — “must continue to perform their lawful duties free from threats, intimidation, harassment, and harm,” Merchan wrote in the ruling.
And although he struck the portion of the gag order pertaining to jurors, Merchan wrote that it would be his “strong preference” to extend those protections because there remains “ample evidence to justify continued concern for the jurors.”
An earlier prohibition on releasing personal information about jurors will remain in effect.
Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in the case on July 11.
A federal judge recently partially lifted a gag order imposed by former President Donald Trump in the hush money case involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The case, which dates back to 2018, centers around allegations that Trump and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 in hush money to keep quiet about an alleged affair she had with Trump in 2006.
The gag order, which was put in place by Trump’s legal team, prevented Daniels and her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, from speaking publicly about the case. However, Judge Jesse Furman of the Southern District of New York recently ruled that the gag order was overly broad and violated the First Amendment rights of Daniels and Avenatti.
In his ruling, Judge Furman stated that while some restrictions on speech may be necessary to protect a defendant’s right to a fair trial, the gag order in this case went too far. He noted that the case had already received significant media attention and that Daniels and Avenatti should be allowed to speak publicly about their experiences and opinions related to the case.
The partial lifting of the gag order allows Daniels and Avenatti to speak publicly about their involvement in the case, but they are still prohibited from disclosing certain confidential information related to the ongoing legal proceedings. This means that they can discuss their opinions and experiences, but they cannot reveal any details that could potentially harm the fairness of the trial.
The decision to partially lift the gag order has been met with mixed reactions. Some believe that it is a victory for free speech and transparency in the legal system, while others argue that it could potentially harm Trump’s right to a fair trial. Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it is clear that the case will continue to be closely watched as it unfolds.
In conclusion, the partial lifting of the gag order in the hush money case involving Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump is a significant development that highlights the complexities of balancing free speech rights with the need for a fair trial. As the case continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how this decision impacts the legal proceedings and public perception of the case.
