A New York appeals court denied Donald Trump’s bid to end a gag order in his hush-money criminal case, rejecting his argument that his May conviction “constitutes a change in circumstances” that warrants lifting the restrictions. A five-judge panel ruled that the trial judge, Juan Merchan, was correct in extending parts of the gag order until Trump is sentenced, writing that “the fair administration of justice necessarily includes sentencing,” the Guardian reports. Merchan imposed the gag order in March, a few weeks before the trial started, after prosecutors raised concerns about Trump’s attacking people involved in his cases. During the trial, he held Trump in contempt, fined him $10,000 for violations, and threatened to jail him if he did it again.
The judge lifted some restrictions in June, freeing Trump to comment about witnesses and jurors but keeping trial prosecutors, court staffers and their families – including his own daughter – off limits until he is sentenced. Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, was originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, but Merchan postponed it until September18. Trump has asked to set aside his 34 felony convictions after the Supreme Court ruled presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts. Trump’s legal team has not argued that his acts were official in the New York case, but that certain evidence should not have been admitted because it related to presidential acts. The court ruling also said that evidence couldn’t be used if it constituted an official act, even if the crimes alleged are not themselves official. Prosecutors have argued the ruling does not affect the convictions in this case.
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