Manhattan prosecutors have opposed an “immediate lifting” of the gag order against former President Trump at the end of the hush money trial, signaling their reluctance to narrow the restrictions and asking the judge to order further written briefings before issuing a ruling.
Trump’s legal team recently sent a letter to Judge Juan Marchan, who is presiding over the trial, asking him to lift the gag order against the former president after a jury returned a guilty verdict last week on all 34 charges of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money fraud.
in Prosecutor’s letterAssistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo responded to the case, which was made public Wednesday, saying the restrictions are still needed to protect the case.
“Those interests have not been diminished, and the Court has an obligation to protect the integrity of the process and the fair administration of justice, at least through the sentencing hearing and the resolution of post-trial motions,” Judge Colangelo wrote in a letter dated Tuesday.
“The public opposition will debate whether it would be appropriate to adjust parts of the court’s order in light of the court’s conclusions and, if so, what that would be,” he added.
Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, and Colangelo has suggested the judge let the parties file written briefs arguing for the gag order when other post-trial motions are due later this month.
“The People oppose the immediate termination of the Order and agree with Defendants’ proposal for further clarification,” Colangelo wrote.
Trump’s gag order, issued weeks before the historic trial that resulted in the first-ever conviction of a former U.S. president and expanded since then, restricts public comments about witnesses, prosecutors on the ground and court officials. It also bars attacks on the families of Marchant and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), though Trump is still free to speak out about the judge and district attorney themselves.
The former president has repeatedly challenged the constitutionality of gag orders imposed in his case as well as two other cases.
“Now that the trial is over, the concerns expressed by the government and the Supreme Court do not justify continued restrictions on the First Amendment rights of President Trump, who remains a viable candidate in the 2024 presidential election, and the American people,” Trump’s lawyers said. Written in the request To the judge.
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