Trump requests expedited timeline for New York gag order review

Former President Donald Trump's legal team on Wednesday requested an expedited schedule for the New York Court of Appeals to review his gag order.

Trump's gag order prevented him from speaking or posting about two witnesses in his alleged hush money case, including his former fixer Michael Cohen and adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump was fined and received threats of jail time for previous violations of this order. 

“President Trump has filed a request with the New York Court of Appeals seeking expedited review of the unconstitutional Gag Order imposed by Justice (Juan) Merchan,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement to CNN. “The Gag Order wrongfully silences the leading candidate for President of the United States, President Trump, at the height of his campaign while he holds a commanding lead in the polls."

A lower level appellate court recently rejected Trump's previous attempt to have his gag order overturned, claiming the gag order was "necessary under the circumstances." Trump's defense team argued that the former president deserves the opportunity to respond publicly to claims by Daniels and Cohen. 

"The Federal Restraining Order Decision properly found that the order was necessary under the circumstances, holding that 'Trump’s documented pattern of speech and its demonstrated real-time, real-world consequences pose a significant and imminent threat to the functioning of the criminal trial process,'" the appellate court wrote. 

The Court of Appeals has not decided whether it will hear Trump's appeal so far, but both sides have been given until June 5 to provide written arguments about whether Trump has an automatic right to the appeal. The final decision on whether to hear the appeal could take weeks.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.