On Tuesday, a court in New York denied an appeal to lift the gag order in the case of former President Donald Trump’s conviction for hush-money.
The Court of Appeals in New York has dismissed Trump’s appeal, stating that there is no significant constitutional question directly involved. As a result, Judge Juan Merchan’s gag order, which was put in place during Trump’s criminal conviction case, will continue to be in effect.
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The gag order prohibits Trump from discussing jurors, witnesses, court staff, or the judge’s family in public. However, it does not prevent the former president from targeting Merchan or Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney who believes that the gag order is essential to maintain the case’s integrity.
Joyce Vance, former U.S. Attorney for Alabama’s Northern District, clarified that the gag order does not violate Trump’s First Amendment rights. She explained that, in other words, the order is not a restriction on his freedom of speech.
In May, a jury of Trump’s peers found him guilty on all 34 counts in his New York hush-money trial.
Prior to his conviction, he denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges of allegedly falsifying business documents in order to cover up his alleged involvement with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Despite his conviction, he maintains his innocence.
During the trial, he vehemently opposed the gag order and went against the court’s ruling on multiple occasions, resulting in a hefty fine of $10,000. Despite the consequences, he persistently attempted to have the order revoked.
Last week, Trump had his initial virtual meeting with his probation officer for the pre-sentencing interview following the conviction.
Donald Trump is set to undergo his sentencing hearing on July 11th, which is only four days before the Republican National Convention begins in Milwaukee on July 15th. During the convention, Trump is anticipated to accept the Republican nomination in a head-to-head election clash with President Joe Biden, either in-person or virtually.
Although Trump’s legal battles have lessened, he still faces legal troubles in several other states. A former official from the Justice Department recently commented on social media regarding the New York Court of Appeals’ decision to reject Trump’s appeal. The official stated that this ruling emphasizes the simplicity of the case that Florida Judge Aileen Cannon is overseeing.
According to a recent post by former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harry Litman on X, a hearing has been scheduled for next week. Litman expressed uncertainty about the level of complexity that may arise during the hearing.
