In a surprising turn of events, Donald Trump has made a false assertion that he is unable to testify in his own trial due to a supposed gag order. However, this claim was promptly corrected by Judge Juan Merchan on Friday.
According to Merchan, the gag order does not prevent Trump from testifying in court. He emphasized that Trump’s speech during the trial is not restricted in any other way.
Merchan then requested Trump to inform his attorney about the matter. This request came after Trump’s lead defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, showed agreement with Trump’s statements outside the courtroom yesterday.
After Merchan concluded his remarks to Trump, the former president silently mouthed the words, “thank you,” as reported by The New York Times. Prior to entering the courtroom on Friday, Trump had informed reporters that the order “prevents me from discussing individuals and offering a response when they make comments about me.”
It remains uncertain whether Trump will ever testify in his own defense. However, it is crucial for him to comprehend the terms of his gag order. Recently, he was fined $9,000 for nine breaches of that order. Merchan cautioned that a more severe penalty, such as imprisonment, is still a possibility if the violations persist.
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