A New York state judge has issued a temporary restraining order against a book President Donald Trump’s niece Mary intended to publish next month offering an unflattering account of her relationship with the president, his father Fred and other family members.
Poughkeepsie-based Judge Hal Greenwald issued the order Tuesday at the request of President Trump’s brother Robert, who claims the book violates a non-disclosure agreement that was part of the settlement of Fred Trump’s estate following his death in 1999.
The book is not set for release until July 28, but the restraining order blocks publisher Simon & Schuster from printing or distributing it in any fashion while the judge considers issuing a longer-term injunction.
An attorney for Mary Trump and Simon & Schuster, Ted Boutrous vowed an immediate appeal and called the order “a prior restraint on core political speech that flatly violates the First Amendment.”
“This book, which addresses matters of great public concern and importance about a sitting president in election year, should not be suppressed even for one day,” Boutrous added.
Robert Trump’s lawyer, Charles Harder, blasted the planned book as “truly reprehensible.” Harder said his client plans to seek “enormous damages” against Mary Trump and the publishing house unless plans for the book are abandoned.