Prosecutors in Donald Trump’s New York hush-money case have requested a gag order on the former president to prevent him from making inflammatory remarks about case participants.
The Manhattan DA’s office seeks restrictions on public statements that could interfere with the trial.
Trump faces charges related to falsifying records to conceal payments to Michael Cohen.
A gag order is seen as necessary to ensure a fair trial process.
Trump’s rhetoric would “create a significant and imminent threat to the trial by distracting personnel, diverting government resources, and delaying the administration of justice,” prosecutors said.
“Self-regulation is not a viable alternative, as defendant’s recent history makes plain,” prosecutors wrote. Trump “has a longstanding and perhaps singular history” of using social media, campaign speeches and other public statements to “attack judges, jurors, lawyers, witnesses and other individuals involved in legal proceedings against him.”
Trump’s camp views the request as election interference, while prosecutors have emphasized his history of attacking individuals involved in legal proceedings.
“Today, the 2-tiered system of justice implemented against President Trump is on full display, with the request by another Deranged Democrat prosecutor seeking a restrictive gag order, which if granted, would impose an unconstitutional infringement on President Trump’s First Amendment rights, including his ability to defend himself, and the rights of all Americans to hear from President Trump,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said.
