New York: A New York state appeals court rejected Donald Trump’s challenge to a gag order in his hush money criminal case on Thursday. The decision by the Appellate Division in Manhattan upholds the order that prevents the former U.S. president from publicly commenting about the prosecutors and others involved in the case until Justice Juan Merchan’s sentencing on September 18.
Trump, the Republican presidential candidate for the upcoming November 5 election, was convicted in May on charges related to hush money payments made to a porn star. The gag order was initially imposed by Judge Merchan before the trial commenced on April 22, due to concerns that Trump’s history of threatening statements could disrupt the proceedings.
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Trump’s legal team has argued that the gag order infringes on his First Amendment rights, but this argument was rejected by the appeals court. The court’s decision supports the need to safeguard individuals involved in the case from “threats, intimidation, harassment, and harm.”
The gag order initially barred Trump from commenting on prosecutors, court staff, witnesses, and jurors. However, restrictions on discussing witnesses and jurors were lifted in June after the trial concluded.
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On May 30, Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records related to payments made by his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. These payments were intended to silence Daniels about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump before the 2016 election, which Trump has denied.
Trump, who won the presidency in 2016 by defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton, has pledged to appeal his conviction following his sentencing.
