New York judge lifts gag order that barred Donald Trump from maligning court staff in fraud trial

[MN2theMax]

Source: Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court judge on Thursday paused a gag order that barred Donald Trump from commenting on court staffers in his civil fraud trial. The trial judge had imposed the gag order last month and later fined Trump $15,000 for violations after the former president made a disparaging social media post about a court clerk.

In his decision, Judge David Friedman of the state’s intermediate appeals court cited constitutional concerns about restricting Trump’s free speech. He issued a stay of the gag order, allowing Trump to comment freely about court staff while a longer appeals process plays out.


Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-york-judge-lifts-gag-order-that-barred-donald-trump-from-maligning-court-staff-in-fraud-trial/ar-AA1k2YGe?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=2ea84a2b39e14f91848e5fe835a02914&ei=49

[Nittersing]

1. Gonna get someone killed. nt

[MN2theMax]

6. I agree

I am having a hard time understanding how the limited gag order was violating freedom of speech, because somehow the Mango was calling out the partisan nature of the clerk? Makes it okay to make threats against her? No sense.

[JohnSJ]

2. Does that mean it is ok to threaten this judge?

[rzemanfl]

4. Nah. We are at the perigee, the orange anus is at apogee, according to his lawyers.

Something is going on here that stinks IMHO.

[JohnSJ]

5. It seems that way

[NCIndie]

3. The gag order was not restraining him. No one will notice the difference.

Why the judge didn't toss his orange face in jail remains a myster.

[JoseBalow]

7. drumpf will immediately resume attacking the court staff

because he can

[noclue023]

8. actually, I think setting up a -

big fat trap for donny that he will fall into !

[agingdem]

13. gagging Trump did nothing...

a $100,000 fine might have an effect...a night in jail most certainly would...but a gag order...nope...let him threaten/malign/insult... the damage to Trump's persona (ego) as a "brilliant" businessman is in the proverbial toilet...more than likely his business licenses will be revoked and his company will, overtime, crater...

his unhinged verbal vomit appeals to his base, a base that is stagnant...he was never going to shut up

[sinkingfeeling]

9. I guess, based on this guy's opinion, every defendant

can say or threaten anybody, in any case. He has killed gag orders in favor of the First. What could go wrong?

[Think. Again.]

12. That was my first thought...

...this judge has now set a precedent against all court ordered gag orders.

This is insane.

[angrychair]

10. Trump again escapes accountability

This is why I believe, at the end of the day, Trump will never be held accountable.
The law isn't interested in hold rich old white men accountable for their actions.

[The Grand Illuminist]

15. There is more than one way

to enact justice.

[BlueIdaho]

11. Do prosecutors have the same right to demean TFG?

Seems fair if they call him a liar, a cheat, a philanderer, and a traitor since these things all happen to also be true.

[LiberalFighter]

14. Hopefully they all have protection. And they use necessary measures to keep them safe.

[duckworth969]

16. Stupid decision

After everything that’s happened, Friedman is a fool for making that choice.

Not his life on the line, is it?

[BlueKota]

17. Is the appeals judge a republican?

[SayItLoud]

18. And not ONE of us

Will call that judge or his clerk and threaten them.

[PortTack]

19. Exactly..but he will convince and his cult to

[keopeli]

20. Judge appointed by Gov Pataki, Republican. BUT, judge claims to be a Democrat.

[Kablooie]

21. I'm convinced that Trump will never suffer consequences for his crimes.

There will always be higher judges that will override any judgements against him.

[Skittles]

22. anyone else behaving like Donald Fucking Trump would be JAILED

the man is STILL not being held accountable

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

23. I'm really tired of "I can say anything because of the First Amendment."

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. In the 1942 case Chaplinsky_v._New_Hampshire the SCOTUS the Court stated libel is an unprotected category of speech, similar to obscenity or fighting words. Trump's words defame the clerk's reputation and literally puts her life at risk from a cult member. These are clearly the purposes of his attacks. Like Ruby Freeman, who suffered grievously twice from TFG's attacks -- once as a poll worker and subsequently as a witness for the January 6 hearing -- the judge's law clerk should the right to pursue a civil action for defamation in court, which is what Ruby is doing.

[Magoo48]

24. Without putting too fine a point on it...

What a fucking joke.
It’s embarrassing to know the world is watching our system quake and cower before tfg’s verbal flatulence.

[orangecrush]

25. WTF

The fix is in.