Former Manhattan Prosecutor Corrects ‘Confused’ Trump on False Claim About Testifying: ‘The Gag Order Has Nothing to Do with That’

Former President Donald Trump incorrectly told reporters he is not allowed to testify in his defense because of the gag order imposed on him.

Trump emerged from the courtroom after his New York criminal trial adjourned on Thursday. A reporter asked the ex-president about the possibility of taking the stand after pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

“Well, I’m not allowed to testify,” Trump replied. “I’m under gag order I guess, right? I can’t even testify.”

Judge Juan Merchan issued a gag order on the defendant to deter him from attacking witnesses, jurors, and court staff, as well as their families. This week, Merchan ruled Trump violated that order and fined him $9,000 while also threatening him with jail for future offenses.

During Thursday’s edition of The Lead, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked former Manhattan Chief Assistant District Attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo about Trump’s claim.

“Karen moments ago, Mr. Trump falsely claims he’s not allowed to testify because he’s under a gag order,” Tapper said. “That’s not right? Correct?”

“‘Testify’ is a term of art,” she replied. “It means take the stand in court, raise your right hand, and swear to tell the truth. And you testified in front of a court, in front of the jury. The gag order has nothing to do with that. Of course he can testify. He has an absolute right to testify and he is not restricted in terms of what he can talk about as long as it’s relevant, admissible evidence. So, the gag order has nothing to do with his testimony at trial. Perhaps he’s confused about that, but it only talks about statements outside of court.”

Watch above via CNN.

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