(HorizonPost.com) – In a significant turn of events, a New York appellate court has temporarily suspended a gag order preventing former President Trump and his legal counsel from discussing any details related to the judge overseeing his civil fraud case in New York. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a staunch ally of the former president, announced this development.
Stefanik expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, attributing it to her complaint against Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron filed with the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct. She stated, “With the unconstitutional muzzle on President Trump now removed, I’m pleased that the court has acknowledged my ethics complaint.”
This breakthrough comes from an urgent lawsuit that Trump’s lawyers launched on Wednesday. They argued that the gag orders cast a shadow over Engoron’s impartiality, thus questioning his capacity to adjudicate Trump’s case objectively.
The former president’s legal team sought a temporary stay of Engoron’s gag orders, responding to the sanctions imposed on Trump for violating them. The gag orders were a reaction to an online tirade launched by Trump against the judge’s principal law clerk.
The ex-president, known for his outspoken style, had made several public remarks about the clerk, even revealing her personal information online. Trump was subsequently slapped with a $15,000 fine by Engoron for these and other transgressions. The judge also summoned Trump to the stand to justify a particular statement he’d made.
In his decision on Thursday, the appeals judge expressed unease about the gag orders curtailing Trump’s freedom of speech. This ruling means that Trump can now freely voice his thoughts on Engoron’s staff while the appeal is underway.
Stefanik, who lodged an ethics complaint against Engoron last week, accused him of showing unwarranted prejudice and lack of judicial restraint towards the former president and called for his resignation.
The lawmaker emphasized the importance of safeguarding the First Amendment and due-process rights of all defendants, noting the issue was “much larger” than Trump. She expressed her concerns about the implications of such treatment towards a former president, billionaire, and leading presidential candidate for the average citizen.
Stefanik concluded her statement by reaffirming her commitment to fight for all New Yorkers, saying, “I raised my ethics complaint against Judge Engoron for this reason. I will not stop fighting for the rights of all New Yorkers.”
Copyright 2023, HorizonPost.com
