On Friday, Judge Arthur Engoron imposed a gag order on President Trump’s legal team and warned of potentially severe sanctions in Letitia James’ civil fraud case against Trump.
Engoron extended the gag order to Trump’s lawyers because he is being flooded with threats of violence “resulting from heated political rhetoric.”
“The threat of, and actual, violence resulting from heated political rhetoric is well-documented,” Engoron wrote.
“Since the commencement of this bench trial, my chambers have been inundated with hundreds of harassing and threatening phone calls, voicemails, emails, letters, and packages. The First Amendment right of defendants and their attorneys to comment on my staff is far and away outweighed by the need to protect them from threats and physical harm,” he added.
As reported by The Messanger:
Manhattan judge expanded his gag order against former President Donald Trump on Friday to bar his lawyers from mentioning his “confidential communications” between him and his staff.
“Failure to abide by this directive shall result in serious sanctions,” New York County Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron warned in a three-page ruling.
Engoron justified his order on his efforts to keep his staff from violent harm. Judges and prosecutors whom Trump have criticized have received death threats in the past, including U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
During last week’s proceedings, Judge Engoron compelled former President Trump to testify, citing alleged breaches of the gag order due to his public remarks.
Subsequently, a fine of $10,000 was imposed on Trump by the judge.
Share your thoughts by scrolling down to leave a comment.
