Former President Donald Trump is expressing frustration with a gag order imposed on him in the trial related to hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday about the trial, the former president noted he had several articles he read that he apparently wanted to introduce in the court but said he could not.
Trump said, “We have a gag order, which to me is totally unconstitutional.”
“I’m not allowed to talk, but people are allowed to talk about me,” he continued. “So they can talk about me, they can say whatever they want. They can lie. But I’m not allowed to say anything.”
Trump added, “I’d love to talk to you people, I’d love to say everything that’s on my mind but I’m restricted.”
Watch the video below:
Trump: I’m not allowed to talk but people are allowed to talk about me. I’d love to talk to you people, I’d love to say everything that’s on my mind but I’m restricted pic.twitter.com/wbTpxDTGBz
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 23, 2024
Trump also insisted, “I’m not allowed to defend myself yet other people allowed to say whatever they want about me. Very, very unfair.”
His comment comes after Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, ripped his attorneys for claiming the former president did not willfully violate the gag order.
Prosecutors are seeking a fine of $1,000 for each of a series of 10 social media posts the claim violate the gag order.
Additionally, they are pressing for Merchan to consider sentencing Trump to jail for violating the order.