Trump Blasts Gag Order as ‘UnAmerican’ and Demands Release to ‘Expose Witch Hunt’
REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer
Donald Trump lashed out against the gag order imposed by New York Justice Juan Merchan in his ongoing hush money case. The former president, found guilty in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, remains bound by a limited gag order.
This order prohibits him from releasing identifying information about jurors or making comments about prosecutors, court staff, and their families until his sentencing next month. Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration, posting, “The Gag Order applied by Highly Conflicted Acting Justice Merchan is horrible and unAmerican. I am the Leading Candidate in the Election, having beaten all Republicans, and now beating the second Democrat Nominee, Comrade Kamala Harris, who was put in as a result of a COUP against Crooked Joe Biden.
When asked about the lawless Manhattan D.A. Hoax, I am not allowed to talk about the most important and corrupt aspects of it, because of the completely unconstitutional Gag Order.” Although portions of the gag order were lifted following his conviction, allowing him to comment on witnesses and jurors, Trump was fined multiple times during the trial, totaling $10,000, for violating the order. Despite these penalties, Trump continued to rail against the restrictions, claiming they infringe upon his rights as a political candidate.
“I am the first Candidate in American History who is not allowed to freely speak about a major Witch Hunt being perpetrated against him,” Trump wrote in another post. “I must be immediately released from the Gag Order, so I can continue to expose the Weaponization of our Justice System by the Radical Democrats. The GOOD NEWS is that the American People see through these Witch Hunts, and will bring us a dominant Victory on November 5th. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Justice Merchan has delayed Trump’s sentencing from July to September 18 to consider how a forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity could impact the New York case. This case wrapped up just over a month before a new ruling in Trump’s January 6 federal case, which was recently revised with a superseding indictment filed by special counsel Jack Smith. As Trump continues to challenge the restrictions placed upon him, the legal battles surrounding his actions and statements are likely to intensify as the 2024 election approaches.
