U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) has co-sponsored a bill barring judges from issuing gag orders on defendants.
Dubbed the "Let Trump Speak Act," Moore said the bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), was in response to former President Donald Trump being unable to publicly comment or defend himself due to a gag order in his ongoing trial in New York related to allegations of falsifying business records and paying "hush-money" to porn star Stormy Daniels.
"President Biden and his Leftist judges will do anything, including stripping a former president of his constitutionally protected freedom of speech, to interfere in our elections," Moore said.
Trump has been fined 10 times for allegedly violating his gag order, which prohibits him from talking about witnesses in the trial, council, court staff and their family members, including Judge Juan M. Merchan's daughter, a Democrat political consultant.
Threatened with jail time for another infraction, many political leaders and public officials have joined Trump in court to help speak on his behalf.
SEE: 'Election interference at the highest level': U.S. Rep. Strong joins Trump at New York City trial
According to Moore, the bill would prohibit "any judge from issuing a gag order to the defendant in any criminal or civil proceeding and guarantees a right of action to defendants who are issued a gag order in violation of this Act." Exceptions include "to prevent the disclosure of confidential information provided in discovery, to protect the privacy of minors, or as part of a plea agreement."
The bill also grants a right of action to defendants who are gagged in violation of the Act.
"Politically motivated prosecutors and judges have been weaponized against Trump and conservatives across the nation and it's time to stand up for Americans and their First Amendment rights," Moore added. "This legislation ensures those sacred rights are protected."
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