Trump gag order partially lifted in hush money case ahead of Biden debate

• A New York judge lifted parts of a gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump in his criminal hush money case.
• But Judge Juan Merchan but kept some restrictions in place until Trump is sentenced.
• The decision from Judge Juan Merchan came two days before Trump is set to face off against President Joe Biden in the first of two presidential debates.

A New York judge on Tuesday lifted parts of a gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump in his criminal hush money case, but kept some restrictions in place until Trump is sentenced.

The decision from Judge Juan Merchan came two days before Trump is set to face off against President Joe Biden in the first of two presidential debates.

Merchan struck parts of the gag order that barred Trump from making public statements about witnesses or jurors in the Manhattan Supreme Court trial, which ended on May 30 in Trump's conviction on 34 criminal counts.

But Merchan ruled that Trump is still bound by the order's restrictions on speaking about lawyers and staff for the Manhattan District Attorney's office and the court, plus any of their family members, if those statements could interfere with the case. Trump is allowed to speak about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The speech limitations "were overwhelmingly supported by the record," Merchan wrote, noting that two appellate courts in New York rejected Trump's efforts to appeal the gag order.

"However, circumstances have now changed," the judge wrote. "The trial portion of these proceedings ended when the verdict was rendered, and the jury discharged."

Merchan wrote that his "strong preference" was to extend protections for members of the jury, adding that "there is ample evidence to justify continued concern