The former president got very mad about his inability attack witnesses and jurors before reportedly dozing off in court again
Donald Trump claimed on Friday that he has been stripped of his constitutional right to speak to the press … while ranting to a giant gaggle of reporters.
The former president took time before entering court in his criminal hush money trial to once again complain about a gag order barring him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, court staff, and jurors involved in the case.
“The gag order has to come off. People are allowed to speak about me and I have a gag order,” Trump said. “They are taking away my constitutional rights to speak, and that includes speaking to you. I have a lot to say to you, and I am not allowed to say it — and I’m the only one. Everyone else can say whatever they want about me. They can say anything they want, they can continue to make up lies […] But I’m not allowed to speak. I want to speak to the press and everybody else about it. So why am I gagged?”
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Donald Trump claimed on Friday that he has been stripped of his constitutional right to speak to the press … while ranting to a giant gaggle of reporters.
The former president rails about the case to the press multiple times a day when entering and exiting the courtroom, and has also been posting his thoughts on the trial with his characteristic barrages of commentary on Truth Social.
On Friday, Trump spent the morning ranting on Truth Social about why he deserved widespread presidential immunity from alleged crimes committed while president — a proposal the Supreme Court is slated to hear oral arguments on next week and which could have profound effects on the various criminal cases against Trump.
What Trump is not allowed to do is use his public statements to attempt to influence, intimidate, or attack those involved in the trial — a standard ask of criminal defendants.
Trump’s actions during the ongoing jury selection process have even led to a reprimand from Judge Juan Merchan.
On Tuesday, Merchan sharply admonished Trump and his team after the former president was heard muttering commentary during the questioning of potential jurors.
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