Current:Home > MyNY prosecutors urge judge to keep gag order blocking Trump from criticizing jurors who convicted him -Finovate
NY prosecutors urge judge to keep gag order blocking Trump from criticizing jurors who convicted him
View
Date:2025-04-12 19:31:57
NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors on Friday urged the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case to uphold provisions of a gag order that bar him from criticizing jurors and court staff, while agreeing to lift a restriction on his public statements about trial witnesses.
In court papers filed Friday, prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney’s office argued that portions of the gag order remained necessary given the Republican former president’s “singular history of inflammatory and threatening public statements,” as well as efforts by his supporters to “identify jurors and threaten violence against him.”
“Since the verdict in this case, defendant has not exempted the jurors from his alarming rhetoric that he would have ‘every right’ to seek retribution as president against the participants in this trial as a consequence of his conviction because ’sometimes revenge can be justified,” the filing states.
The gag order, issued in March, prohibited Trump from making or directing others to make public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected to the case. It does not restrict comments about the judge, Juan M. Merchan, or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case.
Attorneys for Trump have called on the judge to lift the order following the culmination of his trial last month, which ended in his conviction on 34 felony counts for falsifying records to cover up a potential sex scandal. Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, is set to be sentenced on July 11.
Defense attorneys argue Trump should be free to fully address the case as he campaigns for the White House, pointing to comments made by President Joe Biden and the continued public criticism of him by his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen and the porn actor Stormy Daniels, both key prosecution witnesses.
“Now that the trial is concluded, the concerns articulated by the government and the Court do not justify continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights” of Trump, they wrote earlier this month.
In their letter, prosecutors agreed that the provision barring statements about trial witnesses no longer needed to be enforced but said the restrictions on statements about court staff and members of the prosecution, excluding Bragg, should remain in place.
They cited an “intensified” threat situation in recent months, with more than 60 “actionable threats” directed against Bragg, his family and court staff since April. The threats include social media posts disclosing the address of an employee of the district attorney’s office and a photo showing sniper sights aimed on people involved in the case, according to police.
Merchan is expected to issue a ruling soon, possibly before Trump’s June 27 debate with President Joe Biden.
Earlier this week, New York’s top court declined to hear Trump’s appeal on the gag order, finding it does not raise “substantial” constitutional issues that would warrant an immediate intervention.
veryGood! (1686)
Related
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Renewable energy is maligned by misinformation. It's a distraction, experts say
- Watch Adele FaceTime Boyfriend Rich Paul During His Twitch Stream With Kai Cenat
- Jeremy Renner Reunites With Hospital Staff Who Saved His Life After Snowplow Accident
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- This $13 Pack of Genius Scrunchies on Amazon Can Hide Cash, Lip Balm, Crystals, and So Much More
- Love Is Blind Season 4 Finale: Find Out Who Got Married and Who Broke Up
- Pregnant Peta Murgatroyd and Maks Chmerkovskiy Surprise Son With Puppy Ahead of Baby's Arrival
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- This artist gets up to her neck in water to spread awareness of climate change
Ranking
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- North West Makes Surprise Appearance Onstage at Katy Perry Concert in Las Vegas
- Kim Kardashian, Kevin Hart and Sylvester Stallone are accused of massive water waste
- What is the legacy of burn pits? For some Iraqis, it's a lifetime of problems
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- A record amount of seaweed is choking shores in the Caribbean
- Influencer Camila Coehlo Shares the Important Reason She Started Saying No
- Fireproofing your home isn't very expensive — but few states require it
Recommendation
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
Get Thick, Natural-Looking Eyebrows With This $25 Deal on 2 Top-Selling Too Faced Products
Authorities search for grizzly bear that attacked woman near Yellowstone National Park
Olivia Culpo’s Guide to Coachella: Tips and Tricks To Make the Most of Festival Season
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
Federal judges deal the oil industry another setback in climate litigation
How 'superworms' could help solve the trash crisis
The Amazon, the Colorado River and a price on nature