
New York appeals court rejects two more attempts by Trump to lift gag order
CNN
New York’s highest court rejected two separate attempts to hear Donald Trump’s appeals on the gag order in his hush money case, according to a decision list posted Thursday.
New York’s highest court rejected two separate attempts to hear Donald Trump’s appeals on the gag order in his hush money case, according to a decision list posted Thursday. The gag order, issued by Judge Juan Merchan in the criminal case against the former president, remains in effect, although Merchan lifted portions of it in June. Trump is currently limited from discussing any specific prosecutor, court staffer or their family members. Trump’s attorneys had challenged both the initial gag order and the modified gag order. The Court of Appeals judges wrote that they declined to hear the case about the modified gag order because “no substantial constitutional question is directly involved.” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement that the former president “will continue to fight against the unconstitutional Witch Hunts and Gag Orders.” Cheung placed blame on Democrats “because they know he is dominating this election.” Trump was found guilty earlier this year of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Sentencing in the case has been delayed until late November. This story has been updated with additional information.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth risked compromising sensitive military information that could have endangered US troops through his use of Signal to discuss attack plans, a Pentagon watchdog said in an unclassified report released Thursday. It also details how Hegseth declined to cooperate with the probe.

Two top House lawmakers emerged divided along party lines after a private briefing with the military official who oversaw September’s attack on an alleged drug vessel that included a so-called double-tap strike that killed surviving crew members, with a top Democrat calling video of the incident that was shared as part of the briefing “one of the most troubling things” he has seen as a lawmaker.











