Trump bemoans gag order in hush money case ahead of 2024 election

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out against the New York judge who has kept him under a gag order in his hush money trial ahead of the 2024 election. 

Trump, the GOP nominee, is expected to face Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. 

Trump said the continued gag order amounted to election interference. He has repeatedly denounced his criminal and civil legal matters as an attempt by his political opponents to keep him from returning to the White House. 

“Judge Merchan just ruled that I, the Republican candidate for President, and leading in the Polls, am still under a Gag Order CONCERNING VERY IMPORTANT THINGS WHICH MUST BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT. I AM NOT ALLOWED TO ANSWER REPORTERS QUESTIONS. Can you believe this?” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The New York Courts refuse to act. This is happening right before the voting begins on September 6th. Suppression and manipulation of the vote. Voter interference. This is the real Fascist ‘stuff,’ the old Soviet Union! So much to say, and I’m not allowed to say it. Must get U.S. Supreme Court involved. New York is trying to steal the Election!”

In June, Judge Juan Merchan lifted two sections of the gag order, but kept a third that prevents Trump from speaking about court staff and their family members, according to the order.

In August, the state of Missouri attempted to intervene on the issue of the gag order, but the U.S. Supreme Court rejected it. 

Back in May, Merchan fined Trump $10,000 for ten violations of the gag order.