By John Livingston
May 23, 2024

On Thursday, a new bill was introduced by Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee together with 15 additional Republican congressmen. The bill aims to stop judges from gagging defendants in in civil and criminal trials.

If the “Let Trump Speak Act” is enacted, it would restrict judges from enforcing gag orders, as specified in a draft of the bill obtained by I Speak for Trump.

The only time when, according to the bill, judges could release gag orders would be in cases where “secret information” is brought up as evidence or those where minors are included.

The legislation likewise permits gag orders to be implemented as part of a plea contract.
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We have endured years as a politically weaponized Department of Justice, and Democrat activist judges have gone after President Donald J. Trump,” Ogles told Fox News.

The congressman emphasized that the freedom of speech, safeguarded by the First Amendment, is highly valued by Americans. He also discussed that activists in the justice system are working to deprive Trump of this right to further their political goals. He also pointed out other recent cases where prosecutors have requested gag orders on defendants, depriving them of their right to freedom of speech. He fears these gag orders will be expanded in the future/ d

A judge must problem a gag order in conflict with the act, and once the bill end up being law, the subject of such an order can sue for injunctive relief at a U.S. district court.

2 months after New York State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan provided a limiting order versus previous President Donald Trump on March introduced.

A judicial gag order has been released about the ongoing legal proceedings against Trump, who faces 34 criminal charges coming from allegations of making covert payments to hide delicate details.

Merchan’s order gags Trump from criticism of witnesses, district attorneys, and court personnel by the presumptive Republican governmental prospect, according to The Hill.

The gag order likewise shields Merchan’s daughter from criticism, although she is a progressive political expert who has worked for Democratic fundraisers, The Hill reported.

Court files reveal that Trump’s appeal of the gag order was denied by the Appellate of the New York Supreme Court in May

The appeals court decided that Judge Merchan had struck a suitable balance between the petitioner’s right to freedom of expression, as ensured by the First Amendment, and the court’s longstanding commitment to preserving the stability and fairness of criminal proceedings.

The constitutional objections that petitioner lodges against the Restraining Order’s constraints on his declarations connecting to Mr. Colangelo and Ms. Merchan are unavailing,” the court stated.

Trump can now appeal the gag order at the New York Court of Appeals.