Trump loses another attempt to throw out hush money trial gag order

Donald Trump has lost yet another attempt to throw out a gag order in his hush money case in New York.

A panel of appeals court judges on Thursday rejectedthe former president’s argument that the gag order should be entirely lifted after his conviction. The five judges on the midlevel state appeals court sided with New York Justice Juan Merchan, who extended protections for prosecutors and court staff through Trump’s sentencing.

A gag order intended to stop Trump’s public attacks — which have fueled threats and harassment aimed at trial witnesses, judges and prosecutors — should partially remain in place to allow Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and court staff “to perform their lawful duties free from threats, intimidation, harassment, and harm” until sentencing, the judges wrote.

The district attorney’s office successfully argued that harassing messages have “continued to pose a significant and imminent threat” even after the jury’s 34-count guilty verdict in May, according to the appeals court judges.

“We have considered petitioner’s remaining arguments and find them unavailing,” they wrote.

The former president is scheduled to be sentencing on September 18, after his attorneys pressed for delays to make their case that the verdict should be thrown out under the terms of a landmark Supreme Court ruling that grants the president “immunity” from criminal prosecution for “official” actions performed in office.

Manhattan prosecutors have urged Judge Merchan to reject that argument.

Trump has repeatedly used his Truth Social account to rage against witnesses, judges and prosecutors, which have fueled harassing and threatening messages aimed at attorneys, court staff and their families, according to law enforcement