Former US President Donald Trump leaves the courthouse after a jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts in his criminal trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York, New York, USA, 30 May 2024. Trump faced 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Justin Lane | Via Reuters
New York’s highest court on Tuesday dismissed former President Donald Trump’s appeal of the gag order in his criminal hush money trial.
The New York Court of Appeals in a brief decision declined to hear Trump’s bid “upon the ground that no substantial constitutional question is directly involved.”
The decision means Trump’s gag order, which bars him from speaking about jurors, witnesses and other parties involved in the Manhattan Supreme Court case, remains in effect.
Trump’s attorneys asked Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, to terminate the gag order because the trial is over.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, however, urged Merchan to keep the restrictions in place, at least until after a sentencing hearing is held and certain post-trial motions are resolved.
The Trump campaign and the lawyer who filed the gag order appeal to the state’s top court did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Manhattan DA declined to comment.
Trump last month was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of a scheme to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee is set to be sentenced on July 11, just four days before his party holds its nominating convention.
The crime of falsifying business records in New York carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison, though Merchan could deliver a sentence that spares Trump any time behind bars.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
