On Tuesday (March 26), the New York court supervising Donald Trump’s prosecution for alleged hush money payments to a porn star issued a partial gag order against the former president. Judge Juan Merchan instructed Trump not to publicly criticize possible witnesses, prosecutors, court workers, their relatives, or potential jurors.
N.Y Judge grants gag order againt Trump
Judge Juan M. Merchan granted the prosecution’s request for a gag order, citing Trump’s earlier comments about him and others involved in the case, as well as the looming April 15 trial date.
“It is without question that the imminency of the risk of harm is now paramount,” he wrote.
Source: Scripps News
Prosecutors requested the gag order, citing his “long history of making public and inflammatory remarks” against those involved in his court proceedings.
The injunction also prohibits Trump from making or instructing others to make public statements about individuals involved in the trial, but it does not extend to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is an elected official.
The gag order adds to the limits imposed upon Trump’s arraignment in April, which ban him from attacking witnesses using evidence from the case.
The judgment comes only a day after a new date was established for the criminal trial, which is now scheduled to begin with jury selection on April 15. It would be the first criminal prosecution involving a past or current US president.
