The judge overseeing Donald Trump's criminal case has arranged an unconventional hearing to ensure the former president fully comprehends the new regulations prohibiting him from using evidence to criticize witnesses.
This approach aims to avoid the extensive security and logistical challenges Trump faced during his previous court appearance, Time reported.
Donald Trump will not be physically present at the midday court session in Manhattan on Tuesday. Instead, he will participate via videoconference. This will be the first time in US history that a former president will appear digitally for a criminal court hearing.
However, Trump's attorneys and the prosecutors involved in the case are still required to attend in person, according to CBS News.
Judge Juan Manuel Merchan has taken the additional procedure of personally informing Trump about the imposed restrictions following the announcement of the protective order on May 8.
This order imposes limitations on Donald Trump, who has denied 34 criminal charges related to manipulating company documents, per ABC 7. Specifically, he is prohibited from sharing any findings provided by the Manhattan District Attorney on social media platforms.
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The protective order was obtained by prosecutors after the former president targeted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Judge Juan Merchan, and other individuals involved in the criminal case against Donald Trump.
During a hearing on May 4, which Donald Trump was not required to attend, Judge Merchan referred to the protective order as "standard" but acknowledged its unique relevance to Trump, who is currently running for president. The order restricts Donald Trump from releasing non-public information provided to his legal team by the prosecutors.
Limitations Imposed on Donald Trump
According to the order issued on May 8, Donald Trump will only have access to "Limited Dissemination Materials" in the presence of his counsel. He is explicitly prohibited from duplicating, photographing, or transcribing these materials.
Judge Merchan emphasized on May 4 that this is not a gag order and that Donald Trump is allowed to publicly discuss the case. The judge expressed his commitment to ensuring that Trump is given every opportunity to advance his candidacy in the 2024 elections.
Earlier this month, Donald Trump's legal team argued that the protective order would impose an unprecedented and overly broad limitation on a major presidential contender.
Furthermore, until the trial officially begins, the injunction prohibits Donald Trump and his team from disclosing the identities of specific employees of the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
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