Judge Juan Marchan on Friday directed Manhattan prosecutors to notify Michael Cohen, a key witness in former President Trump’s ongoing criminal trial, to stop speaking publicly about the case as his testimony nears. did.
Trump’s lawyers have repeatedly criticized Cohen’s public attacks on Trump, given the former president’s limited ability to respond under the gag order.
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, asked that Cohen be barred from speaking “in the same way that President Trump is being restricted.”
“The judge will instruct Mr. Cohen to inform the public that he is asking him to refrain from making any further comments on this matter,” Machan said in court.
He told prosecutors shortly afterward: “That came out of the court, and you’re communicating that on behalf of the court.”
The former president’s former fixer previously said he would refrain from attacking Trump, but his lawyers said Friday night that he wore an orange jumpsuit and a Trump T-shirt in prison. He announced that he had posted a TikTok.
Cohen is scheduled to testify Monday and has been named as a key witness for the district attorney’s office. He paid $130,000 in hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Trump, which he denies. He also played a role in orchestrating two other hush money deals that benefited Trump.
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