Former President Donald Trump received a judge’s gag order on Tuesday, prohibiting him from publicly discussing witnesses and court personnel leading up to his April 15 criminal trial regarding payments made to a porn star for silence.
The order, granted by Justice Juan Merchan at the request of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, aimed to curb Trump’s past inflammatory remarks targeting witnesses, prosecutors, and judges across various legal proceedings.
Merchan deemed Trump’s previous statements as “threatening, inflammatory, denigrating,” potentially disrupting court proceedings.
Trump faces 34 felony charges for allegedly falsifying business records to conceal reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, also known as Stephanie Clifford, to silence her about an alleged affair before the 2016 election.
Trump, who denies any involvement with Daniels, faced restrictions from commenting on trial-related individuals or staff members to prevent interference with the case.
The gag order also extends to any commentary on court personnel, except for Bragg and a select few, as well as their families.
This order follows a previous ruling by Merchan, ensuring juror anonymity due to Trump’s history of publicly criticizing trial jurors and grand jurors.
Trump, confronting multiple criminal cases ahead of the November election, has consistently labeled them as politically motivated.
Trump’s legal challenges also include a civil fraud case filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, where Trump faced fines for breaching a gag order. Additionally, he faces state criminal charges in Georgia and federal charges in Florida.
Amidst these legal battles, Trump is appealing a $454.2 million judgment in a civil fraud case, with a mid-level state appeals court temporarily halting the judgment upon a $175 million bond.
The gag order echoes restrictions previously imposed in a federal case related to Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election outcome. Trump finds himself embroiled in multiple battles, shaping the landscape ahead of the upcoming election.
