Trump’s lawyers want permission to talk before debate after trial.
Former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in a recent six-week-long trial. These charges were brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Before the trial began, Judge Juan Merchan imposed a gag order on Trump, preventing him from making or directing others to make public statements about the case. Despite repeated appeals from Trump’s legal team, the order remained in place throughout the trial.
Blanche, a member of Trump’s legal team, argued that now that the trial is over, the gag order should be lifted, as there are no longer grounds for restrictions on Trump’s First Amendment rights. Blanche emphasized that Trump, as a leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election, should have the freedom to speak out.
Trump expressed his disappointment in the guilty verdict, calling it a “scar” on the New York justice system. He vowed to keep fighting and challenged the validity of the gag order, reserving the right to address the First Amendment harms it has caused.
During the trial, Trump was fined $10,000 for violating the gag order, with a threat of jail time if further violations occurred. Judge Merchan emphasized the seriousness of the situation, considering Trump’s past and potential future role in the presidency. Despite arguments from Trump’s defense team about First Amendment rights, the gag order remained in effect.
Trump’s sentencing date is scheduled for July 11, just before the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to be formally nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential candidate.
Overall, the trial outcome has sparked debate about the balance between legal restrictions and free speech rights for prominent political figures like Donald Trump.
