Viral claims about Donald Trump's hush money trial, fact checked
CBS News Confirmed examines three viral claims that have emerged so far during Trump's first criminal trial.
Claims about Former President Donald Trump's Trial
Claim 1: Judge Juan Merchan won't let Trump go to his son's graduation
The claim that Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing former President Donald Trump's trial, won't allow him to attend his son Barron's graduation in May is misleading. While Merchan has not yet made a decision on whether Trump can attend the graduation, he has signaled that he is open to it. However, if the trial is behind schedule, Merchan may not allow it. The final decision will depend on the trial's progress and any potential delays [1].
Claim 2: Stormy Daniels denies having an affair with Trump
The claim that Stormy Daniels, the adult film star, denies having an affair with Donald Trump is incorrect. While Trump recently posted a picture of a letter from Daniels denying the affair, this letter is not new and has been public knowledge since January 2018. In March 2018, Daniels appeared on "60 Minutes" and stated that she had been pressured into signing and releasing the letter by Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen. She confirmed that she did have an affair with Trump.
Claim 3: Trump's gag order is unconstitutional
Former President Trump claimed that the gag order imposed on him by Judge Merchan is unconstitutional. However, many legal experts argue that the gag order is lawful and does not violate Trump's First Amendment rights. The gag order prohibits Trump from speaking about witnesses, court staff, the family members of court staff, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's family, or Merchan's family. Trump is still allowed to criticize Merchan and Bragg and may discuss the case publicly. Trump's lawyers have challenged the order, and it will now go to a five-judge panel for consideration [1].
Conclusion
In summary, the claim that Judge Juan Merchan won't let Trump attend his son's graduation is misleading, as Merchan has not yet made a decision on the matter. The claim that Stormy Daniels denies having an affair with Trump is incorrect, as she has publicly stated that she did have an affair with him. The claim that Trump's gag order is unconstitutional is disputed, with legal experts arguing that it is lawful and does not violate his First Amendment rights [1].