Following a judge’s decision to loosen restrictions on what he can say about trial witnesses, including Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, former President Donald Trump wasted no time in launching a scathing attack on those he perceives as trying to hold him accountable.
In a fiery response posted on Truth Social, Trump declared, “Every time the Radical Left Democrats, Marxists, Communists, and Fascists indict me, I consider it a GREAT BADGE OF HONOR. I’m being indicted for YOU. Never forget—our enemies want to take away MY freedom because I will never let them take away YOUR freedom! They want to silence ME because I will never let them silence YOU.”
He added: “In the end, they’re not after me, they’re after you—and I’m just standing in their way! From the very first day that we take back the White House from Crooked Joe Biden, I believe we are going to have the four greatest years in the history of our Country!”
The judge’s ruling, issued by Judge Juan Merchan, eases restrictions just days before Trump is scheduled to debate President Joe Biden. Trump can now discuss witnesses who testified against him and the composition of the jury pool, although he remains barred from targeting prosecutors, court staff, or their families.
In response to the decision, Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized the ruling, stating, “This is another unlawful decision by a highly conflicted judge, which is blatantly un-American as it gags President Trump, the leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election during the upcoming presidential debate on Thursday.”
Trump’s ongoing legal battles stem from his conviction last month on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Despite multiple violations of the gag order during the trial, including statements about witnesses and jury selection, Trump faces fines and potential imprisonment if further infractions occur.
Throughout the trial, Trump repeatedly challenged the gag order, arguing it prevented him from defending himself against accusations made by witnesses under its protection. The judge, however, maintained that the restrictions were necessary to ensure a fair trial and protect the integrity of the judicial process.
