What's changed after Donald Trump's gag order partially lifted by judge | Trump hush money case
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Published 2024-06-25
Judge Juan M. Merchan’s decision — just days before Trump’s debate Thursday with President Joe Biden — clears the presumptive Republican nominee to again go on the attack against his former lawyer Michael Cohen, porn actor Stormy Daniels and other witnesses. Trump was convicted May 30 of falsifying records to cover up a potential sex scandal, making him the first ex-president convicted of a crime.
In a five-page ruling Tuesday, Merchan wrote that the gag order was meant to “protect the integrity of the judicial proceedings" and that protections for witnesses and jurors no longer applied now that the trial has ended and the jury has been discharged.
Merchan said it had been his “strong preference” to continue barring Trump from commenting about jurors, but that he couldn't justify doing so. The judge did leave in place a separate order in place that prohibits Trump and his lawyers from disclosing the identities of individual jurors or their home or work addresses. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche said after the verdict the defense team has destroyed that information.
“There is ample evidence to justify continued concern for the jurors,” Merchan wrote.
Merchan also left in place a ban on Trump commenting about court staffers, the prosecution team and their families until he is sentenced, writing that they must “continue to perform their lawful duties free from threats, intimidation, harassment, and harm.” That portion of the gag order does not prohibit Trump from commenting about the judge himself or District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case.
Trump’s lawyers had urged Merchan to lift the gag order completely, arguing there was nothing to justify continued restrictions on Trump’s First Amendment rights after the trial’s conclusion. Trump has said that the gag order has prevented him from defending himself while Cohen and Daniels continue to pillory him
READ MORE: www.13wmaz.com/article/news/nation-world/judge-alt…
All Comments (21)
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So basically theyre baiting Trump to start talking at the debate and hitting him with charges of violating the part of the gag order that he was still bound by, without giving him a clear cut explanation as to what that is.
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Lifting the gag order right before the debate? What an amazing coincidence!
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TDS
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That judge should lose their job. What did he pay you or threaten you????
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Why is he still under a gag order?
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TRUMP 2024
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I just wish the election was over already.
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This is so ridiculous. But watch the Almighty God gag Biden on live tv ....its hilarious.
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This is so Sad
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Let him speak. Damn it!
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Its molding the Law to fit personal desires. Why was the gag order ever in place, to let the prosecutors do what ever they felt like doing?
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Why remove the gag order at all!
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This whole case is unconstitutional and ridiculous There's no crime without the crime there's no 34 counts
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Leave trump alone,
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Imagine a DA with a personal vendetta trying you for jaywalking as a felony.
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Forbade, not "Forddened".
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Prayers up for PRES. Trump
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Idgaf he will win!
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Completely bogus treatment of a good man!
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This the result of 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉. Pushing and pushing. No need to do anything of this if not prepared!
