NEW YORK (AP) — Even after his recent felony conviction, Donald Trump is still barred from discussing his hush money case openly.
On Thursday, a New York appeals court upheld the gag order that restricts him from speaking about various aspects of his case, ensuring the order remains in effect for now.
The state’s mid-level appellate court dismissed Trump’s attempt to lift the restrictions, rejecting his argument that he’s being unfairly silenced.
His team argued that Vice President Kamala Harris, his likely opponent, is using her role to criticize him as a “convicted felon” while Trump is muted.
At the same time, Trump’s legal team is pushing for Judge Juan M. Merchan to step down from the case.
They argue that his daughter’s work for Harris’ 2020 campaign raises concerns about his impartiality. Merchan previously dismissed similar requests, calling them speculative and unfounded.
In a letter to Merchan, Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche insisted that Harris’ entry into the presidential race made these concerns more pressing.
He argued that Merchan had not addressed these issues thoroughly enough to restore public confidence in the case’s fairness.
Separately, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has demanded that Loren Merchan provide documents related to Harris’ campaign and any communications about Trump’s case.
Jordan also asked for records of any discussions Loren Merchan might have had with her father about the prosecution.
The gag order, imposed by Merchan in March, prevents Trump from discussing the prosecution team, court staff, and their families.
The judge had initially restricted comments about witnesses and jurors but later allowed Trump to speak about them.
Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for September 18. However, if Merchan agrees with the defense’s request to overturn the conviction based on recent Supreme Court rulings, the gag order could end earlier.
A ruling on this request is expected by September 6.
The gag order has been a significant point of contention. Trump’s legal team argued that it infringes on his free speech rights, especially as he campaigns for the presidency.
They also criticized the bias of prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, who worked under Biden, claiming this bias prevented Trump from defending himself publicly.
According to the source, despite several attempts to lift the gag order, Trump’s lawyers have been unsuccessful.
The appeal to the Appellate Division followed a previous rejection by the state’s top court, which found no substantial constitutional issues.
Judge Merchan initially imposed the gag order to prevent Trump from attacking people involved in his case. Trump had previously been fined for violating the order and faced threats of jail time.
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Trump was convicted on May 30 for falsifying records related to hush money paid to porn actor Stormy Daniels. He is the first ex-president to be convicted of a crime.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and plans to appeal his conviction after his sentencing.