By The newspaper
01 Aug 2024, 17:43 PM EDT
A New York appeals court on Thursday rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to lift a “gag order” restricting his public statements in connection with his criminal case. The decision means that the restrictions imposed on Trump, which have resulted in several fines, will remain in effect.
The court stated in its ruling: “We have considered the remaining arguments of the applicant and we consider them to be futile,” thus confirming the decision of Judge Juan Manuel Merchan, who had imposed the gag order in March.
Trump, who in May became the first former US president to be convicted in a criminal trial, faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. These charges are linked to payments made to a porn actress to protect his 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump’s sentencing, originally scheduled for last month, has been postponed until September 18. The delay will allow Judge Merchan to evaluate a recent ruling by the US Supreme Court that could influence the outcome of the case.
Implying?
The gag order on Trump bars him from making public comments about jurors, witnesses, court staff and individual prosecutors, with the exception of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
During the trial, Judge Merchan held Trump in contempt ten times for violating this order, imposing fines and threatening him with imprisonment if he continued to violate the restrictions.
In June, Judge Merchan partially eased the gag order, allowing Trump to comment about jurors and witnesses but keeping in place a ban on talking about court staff, prosecutors and their families. This restriction remains a sticking point for Trump and his legal team.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is a potential Democratic challenger to Trump in the November election, has used the criminal case in her campaign, highlighting her experience as a former prosecutor and describing Trump as a “convicted felon.”
With information from EFE.
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