Donald Trump restricted on social media for his criminal trial

UPGRADE DAY

Former US President Donald Trump appeared in court in Manhattan on Tuesday, where the judge in his criminal trial for accounting fraud notified him of restrictions on communication on social networks, of which he is fond. 

Dark blue suit, red tie, the candidate for the Republican presidential nomination of 2024 appeared on a screen, from Florida, seven weeks after his physical appearance for his indictment, which had sparked a media frenzy and put the New York Security Services on the teeth.

The 45th President of the United States (2017-2021) has pleaded not guilty to 34 accounting frauds related to payments to cover up embarrassing deals during the 2016 presidential campaign, including $130,000 to buy a movie star's silence X on a supposed relationship between them.

Judge Juan Merchan told the parties on Tuesday that the trial would begin on March 25, 2024, coinciding with the Republican Party primary, during which Donald Trump will face the Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis.

Donald Trump has been prohibited from posting certain elements of the case on social networks until then, in particular the documents communicated by the prosecution to allow him to prepare his defense .

With American flags behind him, he seemed to react with annoyance, shaking his head when the judge told him he could face contempt of court if he failed to do so.

He simply replied “Yes” when Juan Merchan asked him if he had received a copy of the order.

The judge also provided, for certain documents in particular, that Donald Trump could consult them with his defense, but not to photocopy, photograph or transcribe them.

He is also prohibited from disclosing the names of employees of the Manhattan prosecutor's office.

Freedom

The judge responded to a request from this prosecutor's office, who highlighted the former president's habit of vehemently attacking witnesses against him and the prosecutors who target him, such as Manhattan's African-American Alvin Bragg, whom he called ” animal” and “racist”.

One of Donald Trump's lawyers, Todd Blanche, told the judge that the former president was “very concerned” about a violation of his right to free speech.

The judge responded that the Republican billionaire was still free to speak out on the case and to campaign.

But Donald Trump seemed exasperated when Juan Merchan asked the parties not to make commitments that could interfere with the trial.

This criminal trial, a first for a former American president, adds to other legal troubles for Donald Trump, 76 years old.

He is also in the scout for his alleged involvement in an attempt to turn the 2020 presidential results in his favor in Georgia, and his role in the storming of the Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021.

He was judged civilly responsible on May 9 for a sexual assault in 1996 concerning the former journalist E Jean Carroll and defamation against him, by a citizens' jury which sentenced him to pay 5 million in damages. He appealed.