Donald Trump asked the New York judge presiding over his hush money trial to lift his gag order in the case, arguing that the basis for limiting what the former president could say “no longer exists” after the jury convicted him of 34 felonies last week.
Judge Juan Merchan imposed restrictions in March, barring Trump from making comments about jurors, prosecutors and potential witnesses because of threats to their safety. During the trial, Merchan found Trump violated the gag order 10 different times and warned him that further violations could land him in jail.
“Because the trial has concluded, the stated bases no longer exist,” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told the judge in a letter dated Monday. “Now that the trial is concluded, concerns articulated by the government and the court do not justify continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights of President Trump.”
According to Blanche, Trump’s First Amendment rights are especially important in light of President Joe Biden’s comments about the conviction and comments by prosecution witnesses Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen on social media after the verdict. Trump needs to be freed from the gag before the June 27 presidential debate, the defense lawyer said.
Danielle Filson, a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted Trump’s case, declined to comment on Blanche’s request.
___
© 2024 Bloomberg L.P
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
