Donald Trump’s attorneys are assertively targeting a New York appeals court to continue holding off on the gag order in his civil fraud case. They argue that the restrictions were overly broad, and the judge levied $15,000 in fines “in a fit of pique.”
Judge Arthur Engoron had imposed various limits on Trump and his lawyers to prevent them from discussing court staff. When the former president shared a photo of law clerk Allison Greenfield, falsely accusing her of being Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s “girlfriend,” Engoron fined Trump $15,000 for breaching the gag order.
On Nov. 16, a state appeals court judge temporarily overturned Engoron’s order, prompting further discussions about Trump’s speech limits and his mistrial request in the $250 million case.
Trump’s attorneys criticized the “Star Chamber” approach and the gag orders that shield the Court from public criticism. They submitted evidence of Greenfield’s contributions to Democratic campaigns to justify Trump’s comments about her partisanship and argued that the former president couldn’t be blamed for the threats and harassment against the judge and his clerk.
Trump’s controversial comments in his legal cases have spurred complex legal battles, as the courts grapple with putting a leading presidential candidate on trial. Trump is facing gag orders in two cases: the New York fraud trial and a pending federal election conspiracy trial.
Recent developments, such as Georgia prosecutors’ failed attempt to revoke the bond of one of Trump’s co-defendants, indicate that the legal battles are heating up. Threats, harassment, and disparaging comments have significantly increased against court staff, underscoring the heightened scrutiny of the former president’s legal issues.
The trial will determine the extent of damages that Trump and his co-defendants will face after Engoron ruled that they had committed fraud. The former president was also ordered to stop conducting business in the state, although the decision is being contested on appeal.
Trump’s legal team argued that Justice Engoron granted unprecedented status to Greenfield and displayed bias by engaging with her during the trial. They contend that the judge’s actions and Greenfield’s contributions to Democratic candidates raise serious questions about the fairness of the trial.
In urging the reversal of the gag order, Trump’s lawyers asserted his right to free speech. They argued that any restraints on his comments should only be justified under a “clear and present danger” to the administration of justice, not borne out of a “fit of pique.”
Ultimately, the legal wrangling will continue to escalate as New York courts grapple with the unprecedented situation of putting a presidential candidate on trial.
