In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump will not be allowed to speak during the closing arguments of his New York civil fraud trial, as he failed to comply with pre-trial terms set by Judge Enger. The request itself was highly unusual, with Trump's legal team wanting him to address the court as part of their closing arguments. However, the judge was initially open to the idea, considering that Trump had the most at stake in this case.
The terms laid out for Trump were straightforward - he could make closing arguments but could not testify, introduce new evidence, campaign, or delve into irrelevant matters. The judge wanted Trump's agreement to these terms in advance and cautioned that failure to do so would result in him being cut off during the proceeding. In a previous instance, Trump had veered off script while testifying, essentially turning the witness stand into a campaign podium. Judge Enger issued a warning then and made it clear that Trump needed to be reined in.
To everyone's surprise, Trump's legal team refused to agree to these terms, arguing that the former president should not be restricted in what he wished to say. Despite granting multiple extensions for the response deadline due to difficulties in communication, the judge finally set a firm deadline. Trump's team failed to meet it, prompting the judge to inform them via email that he did not expect Trump to speak since he had not agreed to comply with the terms.
At this point, there is no official statement from the Trump camp regarding whether they will try to reopen this matter. However, Trump's attorney indicated that an appeal is likely. The judge's stance remains resolute - any violation of the gag order will result in Trump being escorted out of the courtroom and fined a minimum of $50,000.
This development adds yet another twist to an already high-profile trial that has captured the attention of the nation. As the trial moves towards its conclusion, the absence of Trump's voice during the closing arguments will undoubtedly leave many stakeholders and observers curious about what he might have said. Only time will tell how this decision will ultimately impact the outcome of the trial and its implications for the former president.
