Internet abuzz as Donald Trump's hush money trial gag order challenge gets dismissed by top NY court

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York's top court has rejected former President Donald Trump's attempt to overturn a gag order that limits his public statements regarding his hush money criminal case.

In May, a jury found the former president guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying his business records to conceal hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential elections.

The verdict marks Trump as the first former president convicted of criminal charges, according to The Hill.

Why is a gag order issued against Donald Trump?

Imposed weeks before Trump's hush money trial began, the gag order restricts him from publicly commenting about witnesses, jurors, court staff, or the judge's family.

However, the order does not prevent him from criticizing the judge or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D).  

The restrictions aim to preserve the integrity of the case, according to Bragg's office.

Meanwhile, Trump argued that the gag order violated his First Amendment rights and appealed to the state's highest court, the New York Court of Appeals after losing in lower courts.

Why was Donald Trump's gag order challenge dismissed?

On Tuesday, June 18, Trump's request was dismissed in a brief order, stating that the appeal raised “no substantial constitutional question.”

Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the hush money trial, imposed the gag order weeks before the criminal trial began.

After Trump attacked Merchan's daughter, who worked at a progressive political consulting firm, the order expanded to include the family members of the judge and prosecutors.

Trump was fined $10,000 and faced threats of jail time for violating the gag order by attacking key witnesses such as his former lawyer Michael Cohen and Daniels.

Following the guilty verdict, Trump's attorneys requested that the gag order be lifted, arguing that the trial's conclusion removed the concerns about the proceeding's integrity.

This request is still pending with Judge Merchan, while the district attorney's office opposes lifting the restrictions at least until after Trump's sentencing, scheduled for July 11.

The former president has vowed to appeal the verdict.

Internet doubles down as Donald Trump's gag order repeal request is dismissed

Reacting to Trump's gag order being dismissed by New York's top court, one user on X (formerly Twitter) penned, "More election interference."

"Such a corrupt system," a netizen commented while another user tweeted, "No court in NY will give Trump a fair shake."

One user wrote, "This is the excuse he needed to ditch the debate next week," while another user tweeted, "Least shocking thing ever."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.