Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has requested a limited gag order on former President Donald Trump in his ongoing hush money case involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors highlighted Trump’s history of attacking adversaries and seeking to restrict his prejudicial extrajudicial statements.
The trial for Trump’s hush money case is set to begin on March 25, with prosecutors in Manhattan seeking a similar order as in his federal election interference case. The motion includes concerns about threats against the DA and his office following Trump’s social media targeting.
The NYPD recorded a surge in threats against the district attorney and his office, with over 600 phone calls and emails forwarded for review in March 2023 alone. Prosecutors included evidence of threatening messages linked to Trump’s behavior and social media posts.
Additionally, the DA’s office requested permission to play the “Access Hollywood” tape for the jury, citing its relevance to Trump’s motive for the hush payment to Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges and criticized key figures involved in the case.
Prosecutors also moved to prevent the defense from attacking Michael Cohen’s credibility and sought protection for jurors’ identities. Trump’s campaign spokesman objected to the gag order, citing concerns over First Amendment rights.
The former president faces a 34-count indictment for falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to Daniels before the 2016 election. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Trump continues to be embroiled in legal battles surrounding these allegations.