Trump is still bound by gag orders. Here’s what he can’t say

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. 

Michael M. Santiago | Via Reuters

Donald Trump will debate Joe Biden while his speech is restricted by gag orders in multiple civil and criminal cases against him.

Judge Juan Merchan recently lifted part, but not all, of the gag order on Trump in his criminal hush money case in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Trump, who was convicted on 34 felony counts in that trial, is now free to speak about witnesses and the jury. But he is still barred from discussing lawyers and staff for the Manhattan district attorney’s office and the court, plus any of their family members.

At least two other gag orders on Trump still appear to be in effect: one from his New York civil business fraud trial, and one from his federal election interference case in Washington, D.C., federal court.

The gag order from the civil fraud trial barred Trump from speaking about court personnel. It was imposed after Trump repeatedly verbally attacked the judge’s principal law clerk.

In the D.C. case, Judge Tanya Chutkan restricted public statements about likely witnesses, court staff and related legal counsel, including the lead prosecutor, special counsel Jack Smith. A federal appeals court later narrowed that gag order, allowing Trump to speak about Smith.

— Kevin Breuninger

White House Correspondents’ Association slams CNN for keeping Biden’s travel reporters out of debate venue

The White House Correspondents’ Association complained about the exclusion of the White House travel pool of journalists from being in the studio during the debate.

Media crews work at the press room in the McCamish Pavilion on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus ahead of the first 2024 presidential debate between Democratic presidential candidate U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27, 2024. 

Marco Bello | Reuters

“WHCA is deeply concerned that CNN has rejected our repeated requests to include the White House travel pool inside the studio,” the group said in a statement, which noted it had asked for access for at least one print pool reporter.

The group said the “White House pool has a duty to document, report and witness the president’s events and his movements on behalf of the American people.”

– Dan Mangan

With no one else qualifying, Biden and Trump face off head-to-head

A banner in support if Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is seen ahead of the first 2024 presidential debate between Democratic presidential candidate U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27, 2024. 

Megan Varner | Reuters

CNN announced last week that Biden and Trump were the only presidential candidates who met its qualification requirements, solidifying tonight’s head-to-head debate.

In order to earn a spot tonight, presidential hopefuls had to cross two key thresholds by June 20.

1. Candidates had to appear on enough state ballots to reach 270 electoral votes

2. Candidates had to receive at least 15% support in four national polls that met CNN’s standards.

Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to meet those requirements, reaching 15% in just three surveys and gaining ballot access in only 10 states, according to an NBC News analysis.

– Josephine Rozzelle

Source link: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/27/presidential-debate-between-trump-biden-live-updates.html