Donald Trump’s attorneys have requested that a New York judge lift the gag order preventing the former president from commenting on witnesses, jurors, and others involved in his recent criminal case. Lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove argued in a letter to Judge Juan M. Merchan that there are no grounds for “continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights of President Trump” now that the trial has concluded. They emphasized Trump’s need for “unrestrained campaign advocacy,” especially in light of President Joe Biden’s remarks on the verdict and continued public criticism from key witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels.
The gag order was originally imposed on March 26, prior to the trial, after concerns about Trump’s propensity to attack individuals connected to his cases. It was expanded to include comments about the judge’s family following social media posts by Trump. While the order permits remarks about Judge Merchan and District Attorney Alvin Bragg, it restricts statements about court staff and Bragg’s prosecution team.
Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to Daniels. Prosecutors initially sought the gag order to protect the trial’s integrity and prevent jury prejudice. Trump’s lawyers contend that the gag order should now be lifted, particularly with the first presidential debate approaching on June 27. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment on the matter.
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