NEW YORK: A court has reinstated a gag order that bars former President Donald Trump and his team from criticizing court officials in his current civil fraud trial in New York, Western media reported on Thursday.
Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over the case and says his chambers have been “flooded” with threats, had issued the limited order earlier. But it was put on hold just two weeks ago by a judge, who stated he had concerns over right to free speech. Trump’s counsel said it marks “a very tragic day for the rule of law” in the country.
Christopher Kise said that in country where the First Amendment is sacred, Trump may not even comment on why he thinks, therefore, Trump cannot get a fair trial in the US.
Court Reinstates Gag Order Against Trump
Judge Arthur Engoron executed the gag order after Trump posted disparaging comments regarding the judge’s principal law clerk, with her photo, and name. After the order, Trump’s counsel sued the judge and called for an injustice over “surprising departures from ordinary standards of neutrality”.
An appeals court judge in New York briefly lifted the gag order over “the constitutional rights at issue”. However, a four-person appeals court panel upheld Engoron’s order over the matter on Thursday.
“I intend to apply the gag orders vigorously, and I want to make sure counsel also informs their client,” Judge Engoron stated in the court. In a case that poses a threat to Trump’s real-estate empire, he has argued that Engoron is “biased” and will rule against the former President in the end anyway. Former President Donald Trump is closely following the court proceedings, in person and with critical online comment on others.
