Page 2 - aruba-today-20240626

A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 26 June 2024

Judge alters Trump's gag order, letting him talk about witnesses,

jury after hush money conviction

Continued from Front while also testing its limits.
In remarks a day after his
Trump was convicted in conviction, Trump referred
New York on May 30 of falsi- to Cohen as "a sleazebag,"
fying records to cover up a though not by name.
potential sex scandal, mak- In a subsequent Newsmax
ing him the first ex-president interview, Trump took issue
convicted of a crime. with jury and its makeup,
In a five-page ruling, Mer- complaining about Man-
chan wrote that the gag hattan, "It's a very, very
order was meant to "pro- liberal democrat area so
tect the integrity of the ju- I knew we were in deep
dicial proceedings" and trouble," and claiming: "I
that protections for wit- never saw a glimmer of a
nesses and jurors no longer smile from the jury. No, this
applied now that the trial was a venue that was very
has ended and the jury has unfair. A tiny fraction of the
been discharged. people are Republicans."
Merchan said it had been Trump's lawyers, who said
his "strong preference" to they were under the im-
continue barring Trump pression the gag order
from commenting about would end with a verdict,
jurors, whose names have Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, wrote to Merchan on June
not been made public, but June 22, 2024, at Temple University in Philadelphia. 4 asking him to lift the order.
that he couldn't justify do- Associated Press Prosecutors wanted Mer-
ing so. The judge did leave rant restricting Trump's First fice had asked Merchan to process." chan to keep the gag or-
in place a separate order Amendment rights after keep the gag order's ban "His decision to impose re- der's ban on comments
prohibiting Trump and his the trial's conclusion. Trump on comments about the strictions on Mr. Trump, as it about jurors and trial staff
lawyers from disclosing the has said the gag order pre- jury and trial staff in place related to reckless and un- "at least through the sen-
identities of individual jurors vented him from defend- at least until Trump is sen- relenting character attacks tencing hearing and the
or their addresses. Trump ing himself while Cohen tenced, but said last week on court personnel, trial resolution of any post-trial
lawyer Todd Blanche said and Daniels continued to they would be OK allowing witnesses, and potentially motions." They argued the
after the verdict the de- pillory him. Though largely Trump to comment about jurors was extraordinary but judge had "an obligation
fense team has destroyed a win for Trump, his cam- witnesses now that the trial clearly justified given the to protect the integrity of
that information. paign spokesperson Steven is over. defendant's uncontrollable these proceedings and the
"There is ample evidence to Cheung criticized Tues- A message seeking com- daily rants," Brewster said. fair administration of jus-
justify continued concern day's ruling as "another un- ment was left with the Man- Trump was convicted on 34 tice."
for the jurors," Merchan lawful decision by a highly hattan DA's office. counts of falsifying business Merchan issued Trump's
wrote. conflicted judge, which is Cohen, who testified for records arising from what gag order on March 26, a
Merchan also left in place blatantly un-American as it four days against his ex- prosecutors said was an at- few weeks before the start
a ban on Trump comment- gags President Trump, the boss, reacted to the ruling tempt to cover up a hush of the trial, after prosecu-
ing about court staffers, leading candidate in the via text message. He wrote: money payment to Daniels tors raised concerns about
the prosecution team and 2024 Presidential Election "For the past 6 years, Donald just before the 2016 presi- the presumptive Republi-
their families until he is sen- during the upcoming Presi- and acolytes have been dential election. She claims can presidential nominee's
tenced, writing that they dential Debate on Thurs- making constant nega- she had a sexual encoun- propensity to assail people
must "continue to perform day." tive statements about me. ter with Trump a decade involved in his cases.
their lawful duties free from Cheung said Trump and his Donald's failed strategy of earlier, which he denies. Merchan later expanded
threats, intimidation, har- lawyers "will immediately discrediting me so that he The crime is punishable it to prohibit comments
assment, and harm." Those challenge today's uncon- can avoid accountability by up to four years be- about his own family after
restrictions do not prohibit stitutional order," arguing didn't work then and won't hind bars, but prosecutors Trump made social media
Trump from commenting that portions of the gag work now." haven't said if they would posts attacking the judge's
about the judge himself order still in effect prevent Daniels' lawyer Clark Brews- seek incarceration and it's daughter, a Democratic
or District Attorney Alvin him from speaking about ter said they "have nothing unclear if Merchan would political consultant.
Bragg, whose office pros- the judge, whom he alleg- but respect" for Merchan impose such a sentence. During the trial, Merchan
ecuted the case. es had a conflict of interest, and defer to his post-ver- Other options include a held Trump in contempt of
Trump's lawyers had urged or repeating his unfounded dict review of the gag or- fine or probation. court, fined him $10,000 for
Merchan to lift the gag or- claims that Biden directed der "in the context of free Following his conviction, violating the gag order and
der completely, arguing the prosecution. speech and any continu- Trump complained he was threatened to put him in jail
there was nothing to war- The Manhattan DA's of- ing danger to the judicial under a "nasty gag order," if he did it again.q