Merchan said that he would not be issuing a gag order as Trump is a "candidate for President of the United States" and his "First Amendment rights are critically important."
During Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan told Trump’s defense team that their client should cease making "statements that are likely to incite violence and civil unrest."
Morgan McKay, a reporter for Fox 5, was present in the courtroom during Trump’s arraignment and spoke about the statement made by the judge.
"The entire process lasted about an hour and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office went over a couple of issues that they say could be arising in the next couple of months. The first one of course is Trump’s rhetoric on social media," said McKay.
"They said that he has posted a quote, death and destruction if he was to be charged. They said he even referred to World War III so they were asking that the judge consider placing a protective order asking that he walks some of those statements back and make sure that he doesn’t post such inflammatory comments."
McKay said the judge wasn’t placing a gag order on Trump, "but he did ask the defense and the prosecution to make sure that their witnesses know that they can’t have immense rhetoric on social media, on TV interviews, and so forth."
Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, and is set to return to court on December 4.According to the Daily Mail, Judge Merchan said, "I'd encourage counsel for both sides to speak to your witnesses, defense counsel speak to your client and remind them to please refrain from making statements that are likely to incite violence and civil unrest."
"Refrain from engaging in conduct which has the potential to incite violence or create civil unrest," he added. "Don't engage in words or conduct which could jeopardize the rule of law as it applies to these proceedings in this courtroom."
Merchan said that he would not be issuing a gag order as Trump is a "candidate for President of the United States" and his "First Amendment rights are critically important."
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