(TruthAndLiberty.com) – Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, recently expressed satisfaction with a New York appellate court’s decision to temporarily suspend a gag order. This order had previously prevented former President Donald Trump and his legal representatives from discussing the staff of the judge presiding over his civil fraud case in New York.
Stefanik, in her statement, highlighted her role in challenging the gag order. She had filed an ethics complaint with the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct against Judge Arthur Engoron, the Manhattan judge handling Trump’s case. She viewed the appellate court’s action as a response to her complaint and an affirmation of Trump’s constitutional rights.
This development followed an urgent legal action taken by Trump’s attorneys. They argued that the gag orders imposed by Judge Engoron raised doubts about his impartiality in adjudicating Trump’s case. They sought a temporary suspension of the gag orders and related sanctions imposed following Trump’s breach of these orders. Trump had been fined $15,000 by Judge Engoron for various infringements, including online remarks about the judge’s principal law clerk and disclosing her personal information.
The appellate judge, in lifting the gag order, raised concerns about its impact on Trump’s freedom of speech. This decision allows Trump to speak openly about the judge’s staff while the appeal is in process.
Stefanik, a fervent Trump supporter, had previously accused Judge Engoron of demonstrating bias and a lack of judicial temperament towards Trump. She demanded his resignation. In her latest statement, Stefanik emphasized the broader implications of this case, arguing that it was about protecting the First Amendment and due-process rights of all defendants, not just Trump. She stressed the potential consequences for ordinary citizens if such actions could be taken against a high-profile figure like Trump, vowing to continue her advocacy for the rights of New Yorkers.
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