New York prosecutors are against lifting the gag order on Trump

Manhattan prosecutors are refusing to lift Judge Juan Merchan’s gag order following former President Donald Trump’s trial, citing the need to protect the legal proceedings.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo stated in a letter dated Tuesday that the restrictions are still necessary to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings and ensure fair justice, as reported by The Hill.

Prosecutors are not agreeing to immediately terminate the order as requested by Trump’s legal team but are urging Judge Merchan to provide more written briefings before making a decision.

Last week, jurors found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records by classifying payments to attorney Michael Cohen as “legal expenses.” Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Colangelo emphasized that the opposition to lifting the order will consider potential adjustments to the court’s orders now that the trial has concluded.

Before the trial, Merchan imposed a gag order on Trump, prohibiting him from making public statements about prosecutors, court personnel, or witnesses, as well as from launching attacks on Merchan’s and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s family members.

The order does not prevent Trump from addressing Bragg or the judge directly.

Trump has criticized the gag order as unconstitutional, and his attorneys argued that with the trial concluded, there is no justification to continue restricting Trump’s First Amendment rights or those of the American people.

Merchan previously fined Trump $10,000 and warned of potential jail time for any further violations of the gag order.