A three-judge panel of an appellate court has put on hold a gag order by a trial judge against former U.S. President Donald Trump in the January 6 insurrection case. The court said it needs more time to consider the underlying appeal of the gag order.
The gag order, imposed by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., barred Trump from speaking publicly about the insurrection case or making any public statements that could be seen as prejudicial to the case. Mehta issued the order in January after Trump’s lawyers filed suit to quash the case.
The appellate court issued a temporary stay of Mehta’s order on Monday. The judges said they needed more time to consider whether or not Mehta had the jurisdiction to issue the order against a sitting president and whether or not the order was a violation of Trump’s First Amendment rights.
The appellate court’s stay of the gag order is significant because it now gives Trump’s legal team the ability to challenge the gag order in court. If the appellate court ultimately decides to vacate Mehta’s order, it could render the gag order void and Trump could then freely speak about the case without fear of consequences.
The stay of the gag order is also being seen as a crucial victory for Trump, as he has spoken relatively little on the matter since leaving office in January. Trump has made several public statements about the January 6 insurrection, including calling it a “violent attack” and expressing his disappointment with some of the people who were involved in the riot.
The appellate court is expected to make a final ruling on the gag order sometime in the near future. Until then, Trump and his legal team will be eagerly waiting to see how the court ultimately decides on the matter. No matter what the outcome is, this will be a case that will be closely watched and discussed for many months to come.
A three-judge panel of an appellate court has put on hold a gag order by a trial judge against former U.S. President Donald Trump in the January 6 insurrection case. The court said it needs more time to consider the underlying appeal of the gag order.
The gag order, imposed by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., barred Trump from speaking publicly about the insurrection case or making any public statements that could be seen as prejudicial to the case. Mehta issued the order in January after Trump’s lawyers filed suit to quash the case.
The appellate court issued a temporary stay of Mehta’s order on Monday. The judges said they needed more time to consider whether or not Mehta had the jurisdiction to issue the order against a sitting president and whether or not the order was a violation of Trump’s First Amendment rights.
The appellate court’s stay of the gag order is significant because it now gives Trump’s legal team the ability to challenge the gag order in court. If the appellate court ultimately decides to vacate Mehta’s order, it could render the gag order void and Trump could then freely speak about the case without fear of consequences.
The stay of the gag order is also being seen as a crucial victory for Trump, as he has spoken relatively little on the matter since leaving office in January. Trump has made several public statements about the January 6 insurrection, including calling it a “violent attack” and expressing his disappointment with some of the people who were involved in the riot.
The appellate court is expected to make a final ruling on the gag order sometime in the near future. Until then, Trump and his legal team will be eagerly waiting to see how the court ultimately decides on the matter. No matter what the outcome is, this will be a case that will be closely watched and discussed for many months to come.
