Judge Makes New Decision in Trump Case

(USNewsBreak.com) – Former President Donald Trump is currently facing 34 felony counts in New York for allegedly falsifying business records. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges levied against him and is set to go to trial next year. Meanwhile, during the next several months, the former president’s legal team will have the opportunity to review the evidence against him to mount a defense. A judge’s recent ruling places limitations on what Trump can and cannot do with the information.

Reports say that in late April, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Catherine McCraw asked the judge presiding over the case to limit Trump’s access to the evidence. She cited his propensity for attacking those “involved in legal proceedings against him.” The judge has apparently listened to her request.

On Monday, May 8, State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan issued an order barring the former president from sharing any of the evidence in the case. That means he cannot post or discuss it on social media, even on his own platform, Truth Social.

Trump Restricted From Sharing Evidence In N.Y. Criminal Case—Including On Truth Social https://t.co/YwkErr76io pic.twitter.com/0b8rx7rqvv

— Forbes (@Forbes) May 9, 2023

The order goes even further to restrict Trump’s access to the evidence. He can only view it while in the company of his legal team. Additionally, some of the names will be redacted, specifically those of the office staffers, until the trial reaches the jury selection stage. Any evidence that was provided by the defense to the prosecution team is still on the table — Trump can discuss that at will.

The charges the former president faces are typically misdemeanors. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg escalated those to felonies because he believed Trump was misleading voters in an election year, thus violating both state and federal election laws.

Trump is set to appear in court again next in December, with the actual trial beginning early to mid-2024. How it will affect the former president’s election campaign remains to be seen.