BREAKING: Judge Merchan partially removes Trump gag order in NYC case

On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Juan Merchan partially lifted the gag order placed on Donald Trump in the falsified records case brought forth by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. Trump was convicted on 34 counts and sentencing comes July 11.

The order from Merchan stated that paragraphs A and C of the gag order placed on Trump are terminated. Paragraph A related to making public statements about witnesses in the case, while paragraph C related to public statements about jurors. Witnesses include Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen, both of whom Trump contends lied against him on the stand.

Merchan wrote that paragraph B would remain in place, which prohibits public statements about counsel, members of the court’s staff or DA’s staff, or family members of any counsel, staff member, the court, or the DA.

"Regarding Paragraph (b), this Court notes that while witness testimony has concluded, a verdict has been rendered, and the jury discharged - the proceedings are not concluded. This matter has been set down for the imposition of sentence on July 11, 2024. Until sentence is imposed, all individuals covered by Paragraph (b) must continue to perform their lawful duties free from threats, intimidation, harassment, and harm," Merchan wrote.

Merchan stated that "circumstances have now changed," and "The trial portion of these proceedings ended when the verdict was rendered, and the jury discharged," warranting the partial removal of the gag order. 

The partial removal of the gag order comes ahead of Thursday night's presidential debate on CNN. Trump’s team in June filed a pre-motion letter seeking the termination of the gag order. Bragg’s team argued that while the witness portion of the order could be removed, the portions of the order regarding jurors and prosecutors, court staff, and their families should remain in place.