Internet abuzz as Judge Juan Merchan partly lifts Trump's hush money trial gag order allowing him to speak on witnesses and jurors

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Judge Juan Merchan on Tuesday, June 25, lifted parts of a gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump in his hush money criminal trial.

The order came two days ahead of the much anticipated presidential debate on CNN slated for June 27, Thursday.

Donald Trump's hush money case gag order will partly stay in force until his July 11 sentencing

The judge has "kept some restrictions in place" until Trump is sentenced, according to a report. 

But the former president will be allowed to speak against witnesses, and the jurors according to the Associated Press. However, he can't identify or release information about them.

Trump was found guilty on May 30 by a jury of 12 for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records by paying adult star Stormy Daniels to silence her regarding their illicit affair ahead of the 2016 presidential elections.

He will be sentenced on July 11 by Judge Merchan who allowed Trump to be gaged during the trial after he repeatedly attacked the prosecution, jurors, and witnesses in the case.

The judge imposed a $10,000 fine on Trump for order violations throughout the seven-week trial and cautioned him on May 6 that further violations would result in imprisonment.

"Merchan struck parts of the gag order that barred Trump from making public statements about witnesses or jurors," CNBC reported.

Donald Trump's altered gag order limits him from commenting on lawyers

Notably, Trump was allowed to speak against Judge Merchan and not his family and against District Attorney Alvin Bragg who brought the case against him during the gag order, which he continued to do mostly on his Truth Social network.

He continued to refer to the "nasty" gag order calling Judge Merchan "conflicted" for allowing it. He also indirectly referred to his ex-attorney Michael Cohen as a "sleazebag" in a press conference post-conviction.

Merchan ruled that Trump is "still bound by the order’s restrictions on speaking about lawyers and staff for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and the court, plus any of their family members if those statements could interfere with the case."

Prosecutors had urged Merchan to keep the gag order’s ban on comments about jurors and trial staff in place “at least through the sentencing hearing and the resolution of any post-trial motions," according to the report.

They argued that the judge had “an obligation to protect the integrity of these proceedings and the fair administration of justice.”

Internet double downs on Donald Trump's gag order after it's partially lifted

Online reactions were mixed following the news about Trump's legal challenges and courtroom behavior with the majority fearing it would prove detrimental for jurors.

"Guy gets away with everything," wrote one X (formerly Twitter) user, expressing frustration over Trump's perceived impunity.

"This is gonna put both the jury and all the court officers including the judge in grave danger," feared another.

"He's going to talk himself into another lawsuit," predicted one more, suggesting Trump's rhetoric might lead to further legal trouble.

"I'm not surprised. He’s gonna say that the trial was an injustice and that the jury got it wrong and the witnesses were pathetic," wrote another, anticipating Trump's likely response in debate and speeches.

"Ahead of sentencing, I think Merchan wants to see if T can be trusted," speculated one user, referring to the judge's possible intentions.

"Not good. Give Trump an inch he'll take a mile," commented another, worrying about the consequences of leniency.

"The jurors??? They are screwed," added one more, expressing concern for the jury.

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.