With prosecutors expecting to call only two more witnesses before resting their case against former President Donald Trump, the trial this coming week is sure to feature extensive testimony by the Manhattan District Attorney’s star witness, Michael Cohen.
The controversial ex-Trump lawyer originated the claims that led to the 34-count criminal indictment of President Trump, alleging that 11 invoices that Mr. Cohen billed and their corresponding check payments and vouchers were falsified business records created to cover up a scheme to influence the 2016 elections.
Prosecutors allege that the payments to Mr. Cohen were not in fact legal expenses but reimbursement for a “hush money” payment. They spent earlier parts of the trial establishing context with witnesses on the peripheries of these transactions but have not yet presented in court testimony directly alleging President Trump’s involvement.
NEW YORK—At the end of a week of lively direct and cross-examination in the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump, his lawyers asked Justice Juan Merchan to impose a gag order on Michael Cohen, the defendant’s former attorney and “fixer,” who they said has not refrained from attacking President Trump on social media despite repeated promises to do so.
Attorney Todd Blanche got up in the courtroom to argue that it was unfair for Mr. Cohen to attack President Trump constantly in a public forum while the GOP’s front-runner is himself subject to a gag order so strict that Justice Merchan earlier this week threatened to impose a jail sanction in the event of further violations.
But the government’s lawyer, Joshua Steinglass, promptly fired back at the defense, saying that prosecutors had already strongly urged Mr. Cohen to cease his antics.