Staff Reports
Ten Republican congressmen, led by Rep. Andy Ogles from Tennessee, have proposed a bill called the “Let Trump Speak Act,” which aims to stop judges from issuing gag orders to defendants in civil and criminal trials. The proposed law states that judges can only give gag orders in cases where “confidential information” or cases involving minors are involved. It also allows for gag orders to be part of a plea agreement.
The ‘Let Trump Speak Act’ Just Hit Congress https://t.co/Njtv2GlhVp
— IJR (@TheIJR) May 22, 2024
Rep. Ogles explained that the bill is a response to what he sees as a “politically-weaponized Department of Justice and Democrat activist judges” targeting former President Donald Trump. He argued that Americans have the right to speak freely, as guaranteed in the First Amendment, and that the bill aims to prevent activists within the justice system from silencing individuals for political reasons.
The proposed legislation would allow individuals subject to a gag order that violates the act to sue for injunctive relief at a U.S. district court.
This bill comes after New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan issued a gag order against former President Trump in connection with a trial. The gag order reportedly shields Merchan’s daughter, who is a progressive political consultant. Trump’s legal team has attempted to appeal the gag order, but their efforts were rejected by the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court. Trump can now pursue an appeal at the New York Court of Appeals.
Republican Rep. Bob Good, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, expressed his support for the legislation, emphasizing the need to end the “weaponization of justice and harassment of President Trump.”
