The October 3 gag order issued by New York state Judge Arthur Engoron on former President Donald Trump was temporarily lifted on November 16, and reinstated by a New York state appeals court today. The gag order prevents Trump and his attorneys from speaking about Engoron’s court staff in the civil trial. The appeals court ruled that the order was necessary due to Trump’s posts on social media about Engoron and law clerk Allison Greenfield.
The Associated Press reports that a court security captain wrote a sworn statement that Greenfield received harassing phone calls and messages. Trump’s attorneys argue that he never called for the harassment Greenfield received, and that he should not have his free-speech rights limited due to bad actors harassing her.
Trump is expected to testify again on December 11. Upon request from his attorneys, Engoron extended the trial to January, with closing arguments scheduled for January 11.
