Posted on 06/04/2024 5:41:31 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Lawyers for former President Donald Trump on Tuesday asked a New York judge to lift the gag order imposed on him in the criminal hush money case, citing his opponent, President Joe Biden‘s 2024 election campaign gloating over his guilty verdict.
Trump has been under a gag order since April that bars him from making comments about the jury that presided over the weekslong trial as well as specific witnesses in the case, family members of prosecutors, and the daughter of presiding Judge Juan Merchan. His defense lawyers pointed to specific moments last week in which the Biden campaign used Trump’s guilty verdict as an excuse to discourage voters from choosing Trump as the next president.
“Now that the trial is concluded, the concerns articulated by the government and the Court
do not justify continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights of President Trump—who remains the leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election—and the American people,” attorney Todd Blanche wrote in a letter to Merchan.
Blanche argued the justification to lift the gag order is “even stronger” than their previously unsuccessful fight against it while the trial was ongoing, pointing to various public comments made by Biden and witnesses in the case.
Blanche cited “(1) President Biden’s May 28 campaign event outside the courthouse during the defense summation; (2) President Biden’s public comments regarding the jury’s verdict on May 31; (3) continued public attacks against President Trump by government witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels; and (4) the presidential debate scheduled for June 27, 2024,” according to the letter.
The defense attorney cited several precedents they say make their case for lifting the gag order, including Brown v. Harltage, quoting a section that states, “It...”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
It should have ended with the verdict last week!
He is waiting on orders from Biden/Merrick.
Why didn't it?
Did Trump sign an NDA?
Why does this judge have so much power even after the trial?
It should have ended even before the verdict. When has a citizen been gagged from speaking generally against government officials? Trump made no threats against the judge or anyone connected to the trial. He had no control of other’s speech so the position that HIS comments caused threats by others is a violation of his First Amendment rights.
However, you are right. It at least should have been canceled after the verdict was rendered.
Late news: The judge ordered a gag on any discussion of whether the gag order should be lifted.
Remember when the media said “gosh, no one supports Trump day after day as his trial continues.” Must be a sign they know he’s not worth defending now.
Followed by “The House Speaker and others are coming around before the trial day begins to show support. The red ties of the others make them look like a GOP glee club.”
Followed by “Speaker Johnson and others making remarks outside is a probable violation of the judge’s gag order. They may be prosecuted for violating it. An extension of Trump and probably coached by him on what to say.”
Never heard of a gag order lasting beyond the legal action...
The communists never release their strangle-hold on their hapless, incompetent, impotent victims...
Why should we expect anything different in this case...
Just wait until sentencing when the judge says Trump can not benefit financially for his crime. Wouldn’t put it pass them to say Trump has to turn over all the money he got since the verdict.
Trump remains subject to the jurisdiction of the court. Blanche is right, the purported reason for the order no longer applies, but Merchan can do what he wants. Careful, though, if Merchan keeps it in place, it gives PDJT great argument for a 1983 filing.
They’re probably gloating over just his asking for this. Expect no fairness from NY. They are biased as all get out.
I read the Supreme Court cannot take action on this until the sentence is handed down. Is that true?
Merchan just has to file paperwork to end the gag order and so far he has not done that.
You can hire a lot of outlaw biker gang guys for that kind of scratch.
I'm just sayin'.
The Little Tyrant from Narcostan will do nothing of the sort.
He’s abused his power so much at this point that he’s not letting go.
That is what I was going to say. I know nothing about law procedures, but surely a case gag order ends when verdict is reached.
Can’t Trump’s people take it to SCOTUS? Even the retarded libs there can recognize 1A violations.
IANAL, but it seems to take years for anything to wind it’s way through to the USSC.
Why does any lunatic dem have power? RINOs!
Pray for Trump’s safety.
Biden gets away with ignoring the Supreme Court. They dig this rat scumbag out of retirement and Trump has to bow every outrages dictate. It’s sickening.
The jury has been excused, There is no one his words could possibly influence. The gag order at this stage is Merchan rubbing salt in the wound, It is legally indefensible.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.