The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office asked the judge presiding over the New York criminal case this week Donald Trump “clarify or confirm” his previous order to limit public statements by the former president about work and those related to family members.
In a letter sent to New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Mercana on Thursday and acknowledged by the court on Friday, prosecutors said potential trial witnesses and prospective jurors will fear attacks on their families after Trump on Wednesday. exploded Merchan accepted as “biased and contradictory”. The court awarded the badge to her daughter for a social media post that the spokesperson said was wrongly attributed to her.
“Consequently, this Court must make it abundantly clear that the March 26 Order protects the Court’s family members, the District Attorney, and all others named in the Order. Additionally, the Court must warn the defendant that his recent conduct is abhorrent and direct him to withdraw immediately.” ” they write.
Prosecutors said Trump could face sanctions if he continues to violate the orders.
Trump’s attorneys countered in their letter on Friday, arguing that “the express terms of the gag order do not apply in the manner alleged by prosecutors.”
Tuesday order It did not mention Merchan and his family members — a loophole that Trump seized on Wednesday. Nor does it apply to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
“To “clarify or confirm” the meaning of the gag as suggested by the People would be to expand it. Based on a one-page letter citing only two cases, no expansion is appropriate,” the attorneys wrote. “Given the sensitivities associated with prior limitations, if the Court is to consider such an extension, full opportunity for full argumentative briefing is necessary.”
Trump’s lawyers have suggested that they will make constitutional arguments against “any additional unreasonable restrictions on protected campaign speech” during such a briefing.
In a ruling this week that argued that Trump’s past conduct “created a sufficient risk to the administration of justice,” Merchan ordered Trump to refrain from “making public statements about or directing witnesses to known or reasonably anticipated potential involvement.” . in the hush money case, as well as about individual prosecutors, jury members, jurors, and potential jurors.
On Tuesday, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung called Mercha’s order “unconstitutional” and argued that it prevented Trump from “engaging in fundamental political speech that is entitled to the highest level of First Amendment protection.”
Former president he pleaded not guilty After Bragg was indicted in New York last year on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money paid to adult movie star Stormi Daniels during her 2016 presidential campaign.
The Manhattan DA’s trial on the hush money case against Trump will take place on April 15.