Trump lashes out at judge and his daughter after gag order in New York hush money case
PBS NewsHourMAR 27 2024
Trump Issued Gag Order in Hush Money Trial
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The Facts
Former Pres. Donald Trump on Tuesday was issued a limited gag order by a New York judge in the case accusing Trump of paying hush money to cover up a sex scandal during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Under this order, Trump is forbidden from speaking about witnesses' roles in the case, and commenting on court staff, prosecutors, and their families if those comments will interfere with the case. Trump, however, is permitted to comment on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
In issuing the order, Justice Juan Merchan explained that Trump's previous public statements in this and other cases have been "threatening, inflammatory" and "denigrating" and the gag order is meant to secure the "orderly administration" of the case.
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
This anti-American gag order is dangerous because it violates the First Amendment rights of a candidate for the presidency to defend against potentially politically motivated criminal charges. Even the gag order seems politically motivated because it only restricts Trump's speech but the witnesses against him are permitted to continue commenting.
Anti-Trump narrative
This gag order should be applauded because it'll keep people who are just doing their jobs related to this case from being put in the crosshairs by Trump's violence-inspiring rhetoric. In addition to holding him accountable for his crimes, he should have to face the music over his insults and threats that endanger so many people by making them targets for his supporters.
Metaculus Prediction
Public Figures
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