New York's Top Court Dismisses Appeal to Remove Gag Order on Donald Trump
New York's top court has dismissed an appeal from Donald Trump's lawyers to remove the gag order placed on the former president in the New York Attorney General's civil fraud trial. The order, initially issued by Judge Arthur Engoron, bars Trump from making public statements about court staff after Trump made numerous comments about a clerk, who the former president said is biased against him. The judge had twice fined Trump for violating the order.
Background of the Case
In November 2023, the New York appellate court reinstated the order from Judge Arthur Engoron, which prohibited Trump and his attorneys from making public statements about the courtroom staff in the $370 million trial that wrapped up this month.
The order was initially issued by Engoron in October and was a result of Trump's comments about a clerk whom he believed to be biased against him. The judge had fined Trump twice for violating the order, leading to the continuation of the gag order.
The judge last year found Trump liable for fraud in the civil case, and he plans to issue a full decision in the bench trial by the end of this month on damages and six additional claims.
Special counsel Jack Smith and former President Donald Trump
Dismissal of the Appeal
Tuesday, the New York's Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal, stating that 'no substantial constitutional question is directly involved.' This decision effectively upholds the gag order placed on Donald Trump in the civil fraud trial.
Trumps lawyers have complained about the conduct of both the attorney general's office and the judge and his clerk during the three-month trial, and they've already made clear they plan to appeal Engoron's ruling.
Reactions and Future Plans
The dismissal of the appeal has sparked reactions from both sides, with Trump's lawyers expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the attorney general's office and the judge and his clerk during the trial. They have indicated their intention to appeal Engoron's ruling.
It is expected that the case will continue to be closely watched as it progresses, with the possibility of further legal challenges and developments in the future.
