In a recent development, the New York Court of Appeals has denied former President Trump's request to have the gag order against him lifted. The court ruled that there is no substantial constitutional question directly involved in the matter.

The gag order, imposed by Judge Juan Merchan, restricts Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee, from speaking about witnesses or the case following the conclusion of his trial. Trump's lawyers argued that the order infringed upon his First Amendment rights, particularly as it relates to the upcoming presidential election and his upcoming debate against President Biden.

Despite the arguments put forth by Trump's legal team, Judge Merchan refused to lift the gag order. Frustrated with the decision, Trump appealed the ruling, only to have the appeals court reject his appeal on Tuesday.

Responding to the court's decision, Steven Cheung, Trump campaign spokesman, expressed their continued opposition to the "unconstitutional Gag Order imposed by Justice Merchan." Cheung further alleged that the order "silences the leading candidate for President of the United States" while not imposing any restrictions on Trump's political opponents or critics.

It's worth noting that the gag order was initially placed on Trump by Judge Merchan before his trial began, preventing him from making public statements about witnesses or counsel in the case, among others. Throughout the legal proceedings, Trump's legal team repeatedly appealed the order but were unsuccessful.

In a pre-motion letter, Todd Blanche, legal counsel for Trump, argued that since the trial has concluded, there is no longer a basis for the gag order. Blanche also highlighted comments made by President Biden and his campaign, as well as attacks by witnesses like Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, as additional reasons to lift the order. He also mentioned the first presidential debate scheduled for June 27.

However, the court remained firm in its decision, holding that the concerns initially mentioned by the government and the court still justified the restrictions on Trump's extrajudicial statements.

It is worth mentioning that Trump has already faced consequences for violating the gag order, incurring a $10,000 fine during the trial. Moreover, Judge Merchan warned Trump of potential jail time for any future violations, emphasizing the gravity of the situation due to his status as a former president and his potential bid for the presidency again in 2024.

Trump's sentencing date has been scheduled for July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he is expected to be formally nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. As the sentencing date approaches, the implications of the gag order on Trump's future political endeavors remain uncertain.