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An appeals court in New York has officially rejected Former President Donald Trump’s request to lift a gag order in his ongoing hush money criminal case.
The gag order, put in place by Judge Juan Merchan, explicitly prohibits Trump from making public comments about witnesses, prosecutors, the judge’s family, or court staff. However, it allows him to criticize Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. This restriction arose from concerns that Trump’s comments could jeopardize the integrity of the trial.

In their ruling, the appellate panel’s decision stated, “Justice Merchan properly determined that petitioner’s public statements posed a significant threat to the integrity of the testimony of witnesses and potential witnesses in this case as well.” The appellate judges drew parallels between this gag order and another imposed on Trump in a federal case regarding election interference, noting that both were necessary to maintain a fair trial atmosphere free from fear or intimidation.
Trump has vocally criticized the gag order, claiming it infringes on his First Amendment rights by limiting his ability to counteract what he perceives as political attacks from prominent witnesses and critics.
This development comes as Trump faces 34 charges of falsifying business records connected to payments made to suppress allegations of a past affair during the 2016 presidential campaign. He denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, has become a vocal critic of Trump in relation to this case, leading to further complications.
Recently, Judge Merchan took steps to mitigate this tension by instructing prosecutors to ensure Cohen does not make further public comments about the case.