Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump has faced some serious legal challenges in 2023, including four major indictments that happened between the spring and summer spanning New York, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Georgia.
Amidst those legal battles, the president has also faced a civil fraud suit in New York City at the behest of New York State Attorney General Letitia James. The president has already testified in that case. Three of his children – Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump – have also testified.
The 45th president was expected to take the witness stand yet again on Monday, but he changed course on that decision.
He explained on Truth Social on Tuesday that he had “wanted to testify” but slammed the gag order that has been placed on him in the case.
He explained in detail:
“I wanted to testify on Monday, despite the fact that I already testified successfully, answering all questions having to do with the Fake, No Victims, No Jury lawsuit, thrown at me by the Corrupt Racist A.G., Letitia James, and presided over by a Trump hating judge who suffers from a massive case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, and is a puppet for the CROOKED A.G. Anyway, the Judge, Arthur Engoron, put a GAG ORDER on me, even when I testify, totally taking away my constitutional right to defend myself.”
Reuters reported that the president first revealed that he would not be testifying on Monday in a simple statement on Truth Social, noting that the entire trial was “election interference.”
In late November, a New York Court of Appeals reimplemented a gag order on President Trump that was temporarily suspended by appellate Judge David Friedman. The gag order was first issued by presiding Judge Arthur Engoron.
Regarding the gag order, Trump specified on Truth Social, “We are appealing, but how would you like to be a witness and not be allowed free snd honest speech. THE TRIAL IS RIGGED. I DID NOTHING WRONG!!!”
