New York — Donald Trump asked a New York County judge to terminate gag orders restricting the former president from making out-of-court statements during his criminal trial, arguing that the “restrictions” on his First Amendment rights are no longer warranted now that the trial has come to an end.
Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s attorneys, sent the letter Monday to New York County Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, and it was filed with the court on Tuesday. Trump has insisted that the orders continue to restrain him while experts have told Law360 that the restrictions likely didn’t outlive the guilty verdict, which was handed down Thursday.
Blanche says in his letter that, following the trial, “the concerns articulated by the government and the court do not justify continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights of President Trump — who remains the leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election — and the American people.”
Blanche cites a May 28 event President Joe Biden’s campaign held outside the Manhattan courthouse, public comments Biden made regarding the verdict, and “continued public attacks against President Trump by government witnesses Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels” as reasons the court must lift restrictions on Trump’s speech. Blanche also pointed to the upcoming presidential debate set for June 27.
