Trump’s hush money gag order partially lifted by judge

A New York judge on Tuesday partially lifted a gag order imposed on former President Trump’s speech in his hush money criminal case.  

The updated terms allow Trump to resume speaking about trial witnesses like Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, whom he has attacked incessantly. The partial lifting of the order comes just days before the first 2024 presidential debate on Thursday where Trump is expected to address his conviction in the case.

The gag order remains in place when it comes to prosecutors overseeing the case, with the exception of District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) as well as Judge Juan Merchan, though Merchan said he’d lift those restrictions after the July 11 sentencing. 

The partial lift however will allow Trump to address the jury who convicted him last month on 34 criminal charges, though the former president remains under a separate protective order that prohibits him from publicly disclosing their identities. 

Merchan reluctantly lifted those restrictions, saying it would be his “strong preference” to extend the jurors’ protection. 

“However, circumstances have now changed. The trial portion of these proceedings ended when the verdict was rendered, and the jury discharged,” Merchan wrote in his ruling. 

Merchan’s decision comes days before Trump is expected to face off against President Biden in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, though the event is not mentioned in the judge’s order.  

Trump was convicted of falsifying business records last month in connection with a hush money payment his ex-fixer, Cohen, made to Daniels, an adult-film actress, ahead of the 2016 election to keep her story of an alleged affair with Trump a secret. Trump has denied the affair and vowed to appeal the guilty verdict.