The gag order barring former President Donald Trump from speaking publicly about court staff in his New York civil fraud trial was reinstated by a state appeals court Thursday.
Appellate Judge David Friedman earlier this month had temporarily lifted the limited gag order against Trump, 77, over concerns it was a violation of his constitutional right to free speech.
But a four-judge panel with New York’s Appellate Division, First Department overturned Friedman’s ruling in a brief decision Thursday that didn’t provide any explanation.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron — who is overseeing the $250 million case against Trump — in October issued two rulings barring the 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner and his lawyers from speaking publicly about the court’s staff.
Engoron then proceeded to hit Trump with $15,000 in fines total after finding that he’d twice violated the order.
The judge, during trial Thursday, said he would “rigorously and vigorously” enforce the order now that it was reinstated.
The ruling was first imposed after Trump posted about the judge’s chief law clerk Allison Greenfield claiming she was running the trial against him and falsely calling her “Schumer’s girlfriend” — including a photo of her with Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Former President Donald Trump’s gag order was reinstated by an appeals court. via REUTERSIt doesn’t block anyone from criticizing the judge, just his staff.
A lawyer for Engoron last week told the appellate court that he and his key clerk had been receiving daily threats — including antisemitic slurs — ever since Trump’s post about her.
But Trump’s team fired back Monday arguing that while the threats are “vile” they don’t pose “imminent harm,” and Trump’s right to free speech is all the more important given that he’s the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.
“Tragic day for the rule of law,” Trump lawyer Christoper Kise told The Post on Thursday. “In a country where the First Amendment is sacrosanct, President Trump may not even comment on why he thinks he cannot get a fair trial.”
“Hard to imagine a more unfair process and hard to believe this is happening in America.”
The trial is in its ninth week with Trump’s side currently presenting its defense case.
Eric Trump and his dad are expected to be recalled to the witness stand on Wednesday and on Dec. 11, respectively.
Engoron said Thursday that once testimony wraps, both sides would have until early January to file motions — with closing arguments scheduled for Jan. 11.
The judge said he hopes to issue his verdict in the non-jury case by the end of January.
With Post wires
