A New York judge in former President Trump’s hush money case has ordered the names of jurors to be kept secret as the case enters jury selection later this month.
President Trump has been indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records for allegedly illegally concealing a hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to cover up allegations of an affair just before the 2016 election.
Judge Juan Melchan ruled Thursday that the jury: identity is kept secret, noted that both Trump’s lawyers and prosecutors agreed to the principle of a nondisclosure order. Marchand also extended protections to court employees.
“In light of the Citizen’s motion and the allegations asserted in Defendant’s response, this court agrees that a confidentiality order is necessary,” Marchand wrote. “The court further found probable cause in previous filings for “bribery, jury tampering, or the potential for physical injury or harassment of jurors.”
Thursday’s ruling came after prosecutors proposed a gag order against President Trump last month. The order prohibits President Trump from making comments about court officials other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), their families, or prosecutors that are “intended to seriously interfere” with a case. We are calling for it to be banned as long as possible. Trump will also be prohibited from commenting on the jury.
On Monday, Trump’s lawyers denounced the proposed order as “unconstitutional and illegal.”
“Imposing prior restraints on President Trump’s First Amendment speech is unconstitutional and illegal, especially as the public has been making waves around Super Tuesday and as President Biden has turned the State of the Union into his own politics. “The defense team made this request as they prepare to use this case to attack President Trump on politically motivated charges, including this one.”
President Trump faced a similar limited gag order in a federal criminal case involving allegations of corporate fraud and election interference in New York. The former president faces separate federal criminal charges in Florida for mishandling classified information.
The hush money case is scheduled to go to trial in the coming weeks.
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