Change in Circumstances Leads to Modified Restrictions
Judge Juan Merchan partially lifted the gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump before his criminal trial, in which he was convicted of document fraud.
According to Europapress the change was due to "changed circumstances," according to a court document released on June 25, 2024.
Initially, Trump was prohibited from speaking publicly about jurors, witnesses, prosecutors, and court staff, with the ban later extending to his own family and the prosecutor's family.
Public Commentary Allowed on Witnesses and Verdict
Judge Merchan, who is set to announce the sentence for the Republican presidential hopeful on July 11, explained that the trial phase concluded with the jury's verdict and dismissal.
As a result, Trump can now speak publicly about the witnesses who testified, the jury, and the verdict itself. However, the judge maintained the restriction preventing Trump from disclosing the identities of the jurors.
Trump had been fined $10,000 for violating the gag order ten times, with further violations potentially resulting in jail time.
Background of Trump's Conviction
Trump had previously used his platform, Truth Social, to repeatedly attack witnesses and the prosecution. On May 30, a jury found him guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
The payment was intended to buy her silence about an extramarital affair and avoid interference with the 2016 presidential election, which Trump won against Hillary Clinton.
Trump's conviction makes him the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of a criminal offense.
