Judge in Hush Money Trial Orders Michael Cohen to Stop Insulting Trump

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

The hush money trial of former President Donald Trump adjourned early on Friday, but not before Judge Juan Merchan issued a warning for upcoming witness Michael Cohen.

Following a comparatively quiet day in court, Merchan turned to prosecutors to tell them to relay a message to Trump’s former lawyer and fixer that he should hold off on any statements about the case and public insults aimed at the ex-president. He also told them: “That comes from the bench.”

According to The New York Times feed of the case, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass replied that “he can’t control Cohen’s statements outside court.” Trump’s response to that was a “wide grin,” as Jesse McKinley reported.

This exchange occurred as court ended for the day and prosecutors appeared to be setting up Cohen’s testimony for Monday. The request to muzzle Cohen came from Trump’s defense team, specifically Todd Blanche, who said Cohen had been going after Trump on TikTok. Trump’s defense has argued that the gag order issued by Merchan — which forbids Trump from attacking witnesses, officers of the court, and members of the jury — prevents Trump from defending himself from attacks. Trump was fined $10,000 and found in contempt of court after violating the gag order ten times.

Cohen is considered a key witness for the prosecution; while serving as Trump’s lawyer, he was allegedly reimbursed $130,000 after paying adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her story about a 2006 sexual affair with Trump under wraps. Trump allegedly wrote the money off as legal expenses to cover up the true nature of the payment.

Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records and has pleaded not guilty.