Two former federal prosecutors, Joyce Vance and Preet Bharara, have suggested that Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, may face a gag order for his negative comments about the ex-president. Cohen is expected to be a star witness in Trump’s hush money case in New York, and Vance stressed the importance of witnesses keeping quiet until they are in the courtroom. She mentioned that Cohen’s comments about Trump could potentially be used by Trump’s lawyers to challenge his credibility during the trial or any future appeals. Both former prosecutors believe that Judge Juan Merchan may impose a gag order on Cohen, similar to the one already in place for Trump, due to his outspokenness.
Trump, the first former president in United States history to stand trial in a criminal case, has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. The prosecution is focusing on proving that before the 2016 presidential election, Trump paid or discussed paying two women—adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal—to keep quiet about alleged affairs. Despite these allegations, Trump has continuously claimed that the charges against him are politically motivated. In response to nine online comments by Trump about potential witnesses and others connected to the case, Judge Merchan fined the former president $9,000 for contempt of court and warned of potential jail time for future violations.
The violation included comments on Trump’s social media platforms targeting Cohen and Daniels, among others. Additionally, Trump’s argument that one of the comments was in response to an attack by Cohen led to that specific violation not being fined. Bharara, a former Manhattan prosecutor, expressed concerns about Cohen’s public comments regarding Trump and the ongoing trial, stating that it may impact the integrity of the proceedings. Cohen, as a key witness in the case, eventually agreed to tone down his comments out of respect for the court proceedings. The prosecutors emphasized the need for all parties involved to maintain decorum and refrain from making inflammatory statements that could potentially impact the outcome of the trial.
The idea of imposing a gag order on Cohen is seen as a possibility by legal experts due to concerns about how his public comments may affect the trial. Trump’s consistent denial of the charges against him and his view that the legal proceedings are politically motivated add another layer of complexity to the case. Ultimately, the trial will rely on evidence presented in court, witness testimony, and the ability of both the prosecution and defense to make their respective cases. The potential implications of the legal actions taken against Trump and the ongoing complications surrounding Cohen’s role in the case highlight the intricacies of the criminal justice system and the challenges of dealing with high-profile cases involving former public figures.
