A New York judge has partially lifted a gag order imposed on Donald Trump during his trial for falsifying business records in a bid to cover up a sex scandal ahead of his successful presidential bid in 2016.
The ruling by Judge Juan Merchan allows Trump to comment publicly about witnesses and jurors in the hush money criminal trial that led to his conviction on May 30 but keeps others connected to the case off-limits until his sentencing on July 11.
A separate order barring Trump or lawyers from either side from identifying members of the anonymous jury remains in effect, according to the five-page ruling issued on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said last week that Trump supporters had attempted to identify jurors and threatened violence against them.
“There is ample evidence to justify continued concern for the jurors,” the judge wrote.
The partial lifting of the gag order came days before Trump’s first public debate with President Joe Biden on Thursday in the run-up to the presidential election in November.
In the first criminal trial of a US president, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of covering up his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who was threatening to go public about an alleged sexual encounter with the billionaire businessman in 2006.
Trump denies the encounter took place and has vowed to appeal his conviction. His sentencing is scheduled four days before his Republican party convenes to formally nominate him as its presidential candidate.
His campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump’s lawyers would appeal against Tuesday’s ruling, which he described as “another unlawful decision by a highly conflicted judge”.
Trump faces up to four years in prison after being found guilty on 34 counts in the hush money trial, although prosecutors have not said if they would seek detention for the former president. Other options include a fine or probation.
With reporting from agencies
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
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UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day – 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227-4 at the close.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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