'Americans have right to speak': Internet agrees with Donald Trump's defense team as they ask judge to lift gag order in hush money case

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Donald Trump's defense team has asked Judge Juan Merchan to lift the gag order that prevents the former president from mentioning witnesses and the case now that the trial is over. They have cited the 2024 presidential election, the first debate against President Joe Biden later this month, and the former president's and his supporters' First Amendment rights as the reason for removal of gag order.

A letter written by Todd Blanche, the defense attorney for Trump, to Merchan on Tuesday, June 4, was obtained by Fox News. The former president and likely Republican presidential nominee was found guilty on all 34 counts of first-degree business record fabrication last week. The Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's charges were the basis of the six-week trial. 

Juan Merchan imposed a gag order on Donald Trump before the hush money trial began

Before the hush money trial began, Merchan placed a gag order on Trump, preventing him from speaking publicly about witnesses and their potential involvement as well as about the other attorneys involved in the case except Bragg. He was also prohibited from talking about court employees, DA employees, or staff members' families.

Donald Trump's team repeatedly appealed against the gag order

"We respectfully submit this pre-motion letter requesting that Your Honor terminate the gag order restricting President Trump’s extrajudicial statements," Blanche wrote, adding "For the reasons set forth below, because the trial has concluded, the stated bases for the gag order no longer exist." 

Todd Blanche said the gag order should be lifted 

Blanche said Trump’s legal team disagreed with the "proffered justifications for the gag order" to begin with, but said now that the trial is complete, the order should be lifted. 

"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," Blanche wrote. 

He added that the "constitutional mandate for unrestrained campaign advocacy by former President Trump is even stronger in light of" comments made by President Biden and his campaign as well as "continued public attacks" by the government’s witnesses like Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels. 

Todd Blanche reveals why the gag order should be lifted

Blanche also cited the first presidential debate on June 27 as a reason the order should be lifted. 

A footnote in the letter states, "The defense does not concede that there was ever a valid basis for the gag order and reserves the right to challenge the irreparable First Amendment harms caused by the order." 

What did Donald Trump's campaign communications director Steven Cheung say?

Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung told the outlet on Tuesday, June 4, that the gag order is "unconstitutional and un-American." As made clear by President Trump and his legal team, the wrongful gag order was a big part of how the Manhattan sham trial was rigged and should be lifted immediately," Cheung told the outlet. 

Donald Trump was fined $10,000 for violating the gag order

Trump was fined $10,000 for violating the gag order during the trial. Merchan also threatened Trump with jail time for further alleged violations.

"The last thing I want to consider is jail," Merchan said, adding "You are [the] former president and possibly the next president." "The magnitude of that decision is not lost on me," he further noted. "Your continued willful violation of the court’s order…constitutes a direct attack…and will not be allowed to continue…It is not allowed to continue," Merchan continued.

According to Trump and his legal team, the former president and likely Republican presidential nominee should not be subject to the gag order because it infringes both his and his supporters' First Amendment rights. Trump’s sentencing date is set for July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where he is expected to be formally nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. 

Netizens back Donald Trump saying 'this is unconstitutional'

Internet users also voiced their opinions after Trump's defense asked the judge to lift the gag order imposed on the 77-year-old. One user commented, "This is unconstitutional. Americans have to right to speak." Another added, "I'm not sure how this is even controversial. Trump should be able to defend himself." 

"Political interference if the gag order stays.. if I were Trump I'd tell the judge to pound sand," opined one while another wrote, "We all know merchan is not going to lift the gag order, his main objective is to help the democrats reelect their extremely unpopular incumbent." "WTF ! The trial is over, the restrictions are over," tweeted one. 

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.