Former President Donald Trump celebrated a ruling lifting a gag order while lambasting the “politically biased” New York judge who ordered it in the civil fraud case against him.
Trump railed on the “wicked attack on democracy” by Judge Arthur Engoron, a Justice of the Supreme Court of New York who is overseeing the trial in the civil case brought against the former president and the Trump Organization by state Attorney General Letitia James.
The latest development unfolded on Thursday when appeals court Judge David Friedman issued a stay on Engoron’s gag order, questioning his authority for putting it in place. Engoron has repeatedly locked horns with Trump and his legal team, even fining the former president $5,000 in October for violating the order with his comments on social media and another fine a few days later for $10,000.
“At Thursday’s emergency hearing, Friedman questioned Engoron’s authority to limit Trump’s speech outside the courtroom, and argued gag orders were used more in criminal trials where there is a fear of swaying a jury. The ruling also applies to Trump’s lawyers, who say they have no plans to inhibit the former president’s First Amendment rights,” Fox News reported.
“Considering the constitutional and statutory rights at issue an interim stay is granted,” the appellate judge noted in his ruling temporarily lifting Engoron’s gag order.
.”Judge Arthur Engoron has just been overturned (stayed!) by the New York State Appellate Division (Appeals Court), for the 4th TIME (on the same case!). His Ridiculous and Unconstitutional Gag Order, not allowing me to defend myself against him and his politically biased and out of control, Trump Hating Clerk, who is sinking him and his Court to new levels of LOW, is a disgrace,” Trump unloaded on his Truth Social platform following the ruling.
“They are defending the Worst and Least Respected Attorney General in the United States, Letitia James, who is a Worldwide disgrace, as is her illegal Witch Hunt against me. The Radical and Unprecedented actions of Judge Engoron will keep BUSINESSES and JOBS forever out of New York State,” the 2024 GOP frontrunner added.
Judge Arthur Engoron has just been overturned (stayed!) by the New York State Appellate Division (Appeals Court), for the 4th TIME (on the same case!). His Ridiculous and Unconstitutional Gag Order, not allowing me to defend myself against him and his politically biased and out…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 17, 2023
“I have done nothing wrong my numbers were low, not high, I have a complete disclaimer clause, their star witness admitted he lied and made up this Fake case against me, and the the Attorney General used a “Get Trump” platform in order to run for A.G. & Governor (she failed!). This wicked attack on Democracy must be ended, now!” Trump concluded.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who filed a judicial ethics complaint against Engoron last week, declared “victory” on social media after the ruling.
VICTORY: My statement on the New York Appellate Court lifting the unconstitutional “gag order” in New York’s politicized case against President Trump and the Trump Organization. pic.twitter.com/9JOgTtr3OO
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 16, 2023
“I am pleased to see that after my ethics complaint to the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct against Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron, an appellate court has lifted the unconstitutional gag order against President Trump,” Stefanik said in a statement posted to X.
“We must fight to protect all defendants’ First Amendment and due-process rights,” she said, adding that the issue is “so much bigger” than Trump.
