Manhattan DA opposes lifting Trump gag order

Manhattan prosecutors are opposing any “immediate termination” of former President Trump’s gag order following his the conclusion of his hush money trial, signaling reluctance to narrow the restrictions and urging the judge to order further written briefings before making a decision.

Trump’s lawyers recently wrote to Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial, requesting he lift the former president’s gag order since the jury returned its guilty verdict on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to a hush money scheme last week.  

In the prosecutors’ letter, made public Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo responded that restrictions were still needed to protect the proceedings.

“These interests have not abated, and the Court has an obligation to protect the integrity of these proceedings and the fair administration of justice at least through the sentencing hearing and the resolution of any post-trial motions,” Colangelo wrote in the letter, which was dated Tuesday.

“The People’s opposition will address whether, if at all, it would be appropriate to tailor aspects of the Court’s Orders given the conclusion of the trial,” he added.

Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, and Colangelo suggested the judge have the parties submit written briefs debating the gag order when all other posttrial motions are due later this month.

“The People oppose any immediate termination of the Orders and agree with defendant’s proposal for further briefing,” Colangelo wrote. 

Trump’s gag order, imposed and later expanded weeks before his historic trial that ended in the first-ever criminal conviction of a former U.S. president, limits his public statements about witnesses, line prosecutors and court staff. It also prohibits attacks against the families of Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), though Trump is still free to speak about the judge and the district attorney themselves. 

The former president has repeatedly challenged the constitutionality of his gag order as well as those imposed in two of his other cases.

“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 President Trump — who remains the leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election — and the American people,” Trump’s attorneys wrote in their request to the judge.