Hush money case: New York court rejects Trump's bid to end gag order
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New York: A New York appeals court rejected former United States president Donald Trump's appeal to end a gag order in his hush money criminal case, the Associated Press reported.
The court rejected the Republican's argument that his May conviction "constitutes a change in circumstances" that warrants lifting the restrictions.
A five-judge panel in the state's mid-level appellate court ruled that the trial judge, Juan M Merchan, was correct in extending parts of the gag order until Trump is sentenced, writing that "the fair administration of justice necessarily includes sentencing".
Merchan imposed the gag order in March after prosecutors raised concerns about Trump's habit of attacking people involved in his cases.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
In another news, Trump has triggered a controversy by raising questions on the racial identity of his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, during a convention of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in Chicago.
"She (Harris) was always of Indian heritage, and she only promoted Indian heritage. I didn't know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black," media reports quoted Trump as saying.
"So, I don't know, is she Indian or Black?... I respect either one but she obviously doesn't," the Republican former President added while addressing NABJ's annual convention on Wednesday. Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president, is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both immigrants to the US.
As a senator, Harris was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.