Judge Juan M. Merchan has modified the gag order imposed during former President Donald Trump’s recent hush money trial, allowing the 45th president to again talk about the trial.
This decision, coming just days before Trump’s scheduled debate with President Joe Biden, partially lifts restrictions on the former president’s public comments about witnesses and jurors involved in the case.
Republicans had complained that the gag order was overly restrictive and would hamper Trump during the critical debate Thursday.
The modification allows Trump to once again publicly discuss key figures in the trial, including his former lawyer Michael Cohen and adult film actress Stormy Daniels. However, the judge maintained restrictions on comments about court staff and the prosecution team until Trump’s sentencing on July 11.
This ruling comes in the wake of Trump’s controversial conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The charges stem from what prosecutors described as an attempt to cover up a hush money payment to Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election.
Trump and his legal team have called the charges politically motivated “lawfare” aimed at silencing the popular former president.
Trump’s legal team had argued for a complete lifting of the gag order, citing First Amendment concerns and the need for Trump to defend himself against ongoing public criticism from Cohen and Daniels. The Manhattan district attorney’s office, while agreeing to allow comments about witnesses, had requested that restrictions remain in place for jurors, court staff, and prosecutors until after sentencing.
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election, faces potential penalties including up to four years in prison.
However, it remains unclear whether prosecutors will seek incarceration or if Judge Merchan would impose such a strict and unprecedented sentence.
Throughout the trial and following his conviction, Trump has been outspoken about what he and his allies call unfair treatment. He has referred to the gag order as “nasty” and has pushed its boundaries.
The gag order, initially issued on March 26 and later expanded to include the judge’s family after it was revealed his daughter has worked with Democratic Party leaders, has been a point of contention.
During the trial, Trump was held in contempt of court and fined $10,000 for violating the order, with the judge threatening jail time for further infractions.
The impact of this decision on Trump’s campaign strategy and polling ahead of the 2024 election remains to be seen.
With the debate against Biden looming and the sentencing date approaching, all eyes will be on how Trump navigates these partially lifted restrictions — and how his comments might influence public opinion and potentially future legal proceedings.