A New York appeals court has rejected Donald Trump’s bid to end a gag order in his hush money criminal case. The court ruled that the trial judge was correct in extending parts of the gag order until Trump is sentenced. The ruling comes after Trump’s lawyers tried to file papers asking for the immediate lifting of the gag order, arguing that his conviction constitutes a change in circumstances. Trump’s lawyers claimed that the restrictions on his free speech were unconstitutional and election-interfering.
The gag order was imposed by the trial judge in March, before the trial started, due to concerns raised by prosecutors about Trump’s habit of attacking people involved in his cases. During the trial, Trump was held in contempt of court and fined $10,000 for violations of the gag order. Some restrictions were lifted in June, allowing Trump to comment about witnesses and jurors but keeping trial prosecutors, court staffers, and their families off limits until he is sentenced. Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, but it has been postponed until September 18 to allow the judge to consider a defense request to throw out the conviction.
Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for falsifying records to cover up a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election. Daniels claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier, which he denies. Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels and was reimbursed by Trump, with the reimbursements disguised as legal expenses. Prosecutors argued that the payment to Daniels was part of a broader scheme to buy the silence of individuals who could have revealed embarrassing stories during the 2016 campaign. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has pledged to appeal his conviction, but he cannot do so until he is sentenced.
Trump’s lawyers argued in a prospective filing provided to the Associated Press that Vice President Kamala Harris’ entry into the presidential race gives new urgency to the lifting of the gag order. They contended that it was unfair that Harris could speak freely about the case while Trump was muzzled. The court rejected the filing, and Trump’s lawyer declined to comment on the ruling. The ruling comes amid ongoing legal battles for Trump, including a defense request to have his conviction thrown out in light of a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. The court’s decision to uphold the gag order until Trump is sentenced shows that the fair administration of justice is a priority, even for high-profile individuals.
