Trump to appear in court via video link in secret money case

A frustrated Donald Trump appeared in a New York court via video link on Tuesday to be informed by a judge that he could not release certain evidence in his criminal case on social media.

Trump denies 34 counts of falsifying business documents to cover alleged silence money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.

He became the first former or current president to ever be charged with a crime during the historic Manhattan trial in April.

Judge Juan Mercan told Trump that he was prohibited from disclosing confidential material that the prosecution would give to his lawyers so they could prepare their defense.

Trump, who emerged from Florida with two American flags on his back, said, “Yes, I agree,” when Merchan asked if he had received a copy of the order.

In a navy blue suit and red tie, Trump shook his head as the judge said he could be charged with contempt of court if he violated the order.

However, the 76-year-old is allowed to release information already in the public domain and most of the evidence collected by his own team.

But he is barred from releasing the names of certain employees of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the prosecutor in the case, until the trial begins.

Merchan signed the order earlier this month after the prosecution requested restrictions on Trump’s handling of evidence.

The DA’s office cited Trump’s track record of attacking witnesses and Bragg in social media posts.

Trump’s lawyers opposed the protection order, saying it would be an unprecedented “muzzle” on a presidential candidate.

Attorney Todd Blanche, sitting to Trump’s left, told the judge the ex-president was “very concerned” about the violation of his First Amendment free speech rights.

Merchan stressed that his decision does not amount to a non-disclosure order and that Trump is still free to talk about the case and campaign for a return to the presidency next year.

The judge said the trial will begin next March 25, meaning the historic trial is likely to begin in the midst of the Republican primaries in the 2024 presidential election.

Trump looked increasingly annoyed and shook his head again as Merchan informed all parties in the case that they should not make any other commitments that could interfere with the trial.

The allegations involve reimbursing then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment to Daniels made just weeks before Trump’s election victory.

Prosecutors say the money was meant to silence Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, over sex she said she had with Trump in 2006.

They claim that Trump covered up the true nature of the payments.

The criminal case is one of several legal challenges that threaten to derail Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign.

He is under investigation for his attempts to undo his 2020 election defeat in the southern state of Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents taken from the White House, and his involvement in the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021.

© 2023 AFP