Former US President Donald Trump has sought the removal of a gag order imposed on him following his conviction in a hush-money case.
Justice Juan Merchan initially issued the order, restricting Trump from public commentary before the trial’s start in April. The prohibition aimed to prevent potentially prejudicial comments due to Trump’s history of making incendiary remarks.
After the trial’s conclusion, Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, argued that the circumstances previously justifying the gag order no longer apply, asserting that continuing the restrictions infringes upon Trump’s First Amendment rights. The letter dated June 3 emphasized the need to lift the gag order to restore Trump’s freedom of speech.
The case involved payments made to adult actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed the money was to silence her regarding an alleged sexual encounter with Trump—a claim he denies. Despite his conviction, Trump has announced plans to appeal, frequently criticizing the gag order as violating his constitutional rights.
During the trial, Justice Merchan fined Trump for multiple infractions of the gag order, including a social media post and comments made during an interview that disparaged the trial’s integrity. Merchan cautioned that further violations could lead to jail time.
Blanche’s recent letter also highlighted public comments made by President Joe Biden and continued criticism from Daniels and Michael Cohen, suggesting that the gag order compromises fairness. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, has yet to respond to the request to lift the gag order.
