A Manhattan judge on Tuesday adjusted Donald Trump’s restriction on speaking publicly, allowing the former president to now discuss witnesses and jurors involved in his hush money criminal trial, which resulted in his felony conviction. However, the judge maintained that Trump cannot comment on others tied to the case until his sentencing on July 11.
Judge Juan M. Merchan’s decision, coming just days before Trump’s debate with President Joe Biden, permits the presumptive Republican nominee to resume criticism of his former lawyer-turned-foe Michael Cohen, adult film star Stormy Daniels, and other trial witnesses. Trump was convicted in New York on May 30 for altering records to conceal a potential scandal, marking him as the first former president convicted of a crime.
In a detailed ruling spanning five pages, Merchan explained that the original gag order aimed to safeguard the fairness of the legal proceedings. With the trial concluded and the jury discharged, protections for witnesses and jurors no longer apply, according to Merchan’s judgment.
Donald Trump looks at the camera while talking about America’s healthcare plans (Via Shane Johnson/Shutterstock)
While Merchan expressed a preference to continue restricting Trump from discussing jurors, whose identities remain undisclosed, he concluded that such restrictions could not be justified. However, Merchan upheld a separate order preventing Trump and his legal team from disclosing jurors’ identities or addresses, noting that the defense team had already destroyed this sensitive information.
Merchan also maintained restrictions on Trump commenting about court staff, the prosecution team, and their families until after sentencing. This, he argued, ensures they can perform their duties without fear of threats or harassment. The judge clarified that Trump remains free to comment about the judge himself and District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office handled the prosecution.
Trump’s legal team had sought a complete lifting of the gag order, asserting that there was no reason to continue restricting Trump’s rights under the First Amendment now that the trial has concluded. Trump had previously complained that the gag order prevented him from defending himself while Cohen and Daniels continued to criticize him.
