(TheIndependentStar.com) – Leftist judicial repression of former President Donald Trump is not letting up as his appeal of the gag order in his so-called “hush money” trial has been rejected by a higher court, leaving the presumed GOP presidential nominee subject to the censorship motion.
Trump will continue to be subject to a gag order during his criminal trial in Manhattan, as determined by a decision from a New York appellate court on Tuesday.
Trump now has the option to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, Breitbart News reports.
The gag order restricts Trump from publicly discussing trial witnesses, members of the legal teams apart from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, court and District Attorney’s staff, or their family members.
This restriction applies specifically if the comments are intended to materially disrupt the professional duties of the individuals involved in the trial. The prohibition extends also to prospective jurors.
“We find that Justice Merchan properly weighed petitioner’s First Amendment Rights against the court’s historical commitment to ensuring the fair administration of justice in criminal cases, and the right of persons related or tangentially related to the criminal proceedings from being free from threats, intimidation, harassment, and harm,” the ruling states.
“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,” it adds further.
Trump has contested the constitutionality of the gag order.
“You ask me questions; I’m not allowed to respond,” he commented to journalists before entering the courtroom on Tuesday.
“The gag order has to come off,” he added.
Previously in May, Judge Juan Merchan of New York County decided that Trump had breached the gag order, marking the second instance of such a ruling during the trial.
Merchan cited Trump for criminal contempt and cautioned him of potential imprisonment for subsequent violations.
Trump was fined $1,000 for this latest violation. This follows fines imposed on Trump for nine prior infractions.
Notably, the tenth contempt charge against Trump was cited before the issuance of the latest gag order, and there have been no additional violations reported since then.
The legal proceedings are formally listed under Trump v. Merchan, No. 2024-02369, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York Appellate Division, First Judicial Department.
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