Judge Merchan orders Michael Cohen to keep quiet about Trump after he posted mocking video
Former President Donald Trump's lawyers won a concession from Judge Juan Merchan on Friday when he ordered former "fixer" Michael Cohen to stop publicly mocking the former president for the duration of the Manhattan hush-money trial.
As reported by legal journalist Adam Klasfeld, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche at the end of Friday's hearing brought up Cohen posting anti-Trump videos on TikTok despite the fact that in the past he had been ordered to stop doing so.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass informed Merchan that he has "repeatedly, repeatedly" told Cohen to knock it off, but he said ultimately prosecutors can't control witnesses.
Merchan then told Steinglass and his team to inform Cohen that he personally is directing Cohen to refrain from making public statements about the case until its conclusion.
"That comes directly from the bench," he emphasized.