The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has formally opposed former President Donald Trump's request to terminate the gag order against him. The DA's office argues that the purpose of the gag order was to shield certain participants from Trump's potentially 'threatening, inflammatory, [and] denigrating' statements, and therefore, the order should remain in effect.
According to court documents, the DA's office contends that Trump has not refrained from making alarming statements, including implying retribution against participants in the trial if convicted. Prosecutors highlighted instances where Trump referred to the jury as predominantly Democrats, suggesting bias.
Prosecutors emphasized that the gag order should not be lifted before sentencing, as they are still actively involved in the case. The DA's office revealed that they have received nearly 500 threatening emails and phone calls since April 2024, with two individuals involved in the case receiving bomb threats on the trial's first day.
Furthermore, the DA's office pointed out that while the gag order may no longer be necessary for potential witnesses post the hush money case, Trump should not be allowed to resume publicly attacking individuals involved in litigation against him.
Trump had requested Judge Juan Merchan on June 4 to lift the gag order preventing him from discussing witnesses, jurors, and other case associates.
