Trump's Never-Ending Battle: Gag Orders, Guilty Verdicts, and Supreme Court Wins!

Trump’s Gag Order Upheld: The Latest Legal Drama

Well, folks, the drama continues. On Thursday, a New York appeals court decided former President Trump must keep quiet. Yep, the gag order from New York v. Trump is here to stay.

Now let’s talk about why we’re here. Trump was found guilty of tampering with business records. Pleading not guilty, he’s appealing the verdict and has urged Judge Juan Merchan to throw it all out.

Back in March, just before the trial kicked off, Merchan slapped a gag order on Trump. He couldn’t talk about court staff, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s team, or anyone close to the court and prosecutors. Oh, and witnesses, too. Talk about restrictive! Trump wasn’t having any of it and kept appealing, saying it trampled all over his First Amendment rights. But no dice, the gag order stands firm.

Presidential Immunity: A Game-Changing Factor

Trump was originally set to be sentenced on July 11, right before the Republican National Convention. But he asked for a delay after the Supreme Court weighed in on presidential immunity. According to the high court, a former president can’t be prosecuted for official acts done in office. But for unofficial acts? That’s a different story.

Chief Justice John Roberts spelled it out: “The President can’t be prosecuted for exercising his core powers. He’s got a sort of immunity for official acts.” This applies to all Oval Office residents, no matter their politics.

Key Points	Details
Gag Order	Upheld by New York appeals court
Trump’s Charges	Tampering with business records
Presidential Immunity	Applies to official acts, not unofficial ones
Sentencing Date	Pushed to September 18

Trump’s Response and Legal Strategy

Trump hailed the ruling as a “big win for our Constitution and for democracy.” And he’s not wrong. This all stems from special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 charges against Trump, another case Trump has firmly denied. Thanks to the Supreme Court, anything related to his presidential duties is off the table.

Judge Merchan pushed Trump’s sentencing hearing to Sept. 18., but wait there’s more! Trump’s legal team didn’t waste any time. They want the guilty verdict in New York v. Trump overturned. They’re leaning on that Supreme Court ruling, claiming it throws the entire case out the window.

Attorney Todd Blanche argued that some evidence, particularly from former White House officials, shouldn’t have been part of the trial. He accused DA Bragg of pulling a fast one by using “official acts” in the grand jury’s decision.

What’s Next in Trump’s Legal Saga?

So what’s next? We’ll have to see how the court rules on this motion. One thing’s for sure – Trump’s legal battles are far from over. Grab your popcorn, folks!