Manhattan, United States

Donald Trump's legal team has urged Justice Juan Merchan, the judge who presided over his hush money trial, to lift the gag order now that the Republican has been convicted. They claim that the restrictions are being exploited and used against him as a "political sword."

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'Convicted felon' label

In a recent court filing, defence lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove pointed out that President Joe Biden's campaign had referred to Trump as a "convicted felon" in a statement dated May 30. 

Even though the order only limits his public statements about jurors, witnesses, and other individuals involved in the trial, not his general criticism of the case, Trump's lawyer argued that the gag order could compromise his ability to respond to Biden's attacks during their June 27 presidential debate.

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"President Trump's opponents and adversaries are using the Gag Order as a political sword to attack President Trump with reference to this case, on the understanding that his ability to mount a detailed response is severely restricted," said the lawyers.

Reuters reports that the prosecutors, in a brief letter last week, have requested that the gag order remain in effect at least until Trump's sentencing, emphasising the need to "protect the integrity of these proceedings." 

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Trump found guilty

On May 30, a jury in Manhattan found the White House hopeful guilty of falsifying business records on all 34 counts. This cover up included falsifying records of a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, sought to ensure her silence about an alleged sexual encounter before the 2016 election.

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Trump is due for sentencing on July 11. He continues to deny the encounter with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, and has pledged to appeal the verdict after the sentencing.

Trump's gag order

This order limits Trump's ability to publicly comment on the trial's jurors, witnesses, prosecutors, and court staff. It was later extended to prevent comments about his own family and the prosecutor's family.

Justice Merchan originally issued the gag order before the trial commenced in April over the prosecutors' concerns about Trump's history of making potentially disruptive statements. 

On multiple occasions during the trial, Trump was found to be guilty of breaking the gag order. He was fined $10,000 by the New York court for not adhering to the gag order. He was also threatened with jail time for openly flouting Judge Merchan's order.

Before the gag order, Trump would routinely attack likely witnesses in the case and the prosecutors in posts on his social media platform Truth Social.

(With inputs from agencies)