Trump Under Gag Order Ahead Of NYC Porn Star Hush-Money Trial

NEW YORK CITY — Donald Trump is under a gag order ahead of his historic hush-money criminal trial in Manhattan.

Judge Juan Merchan issued the gag order Tuesday that prohibits Trump from making public statements about witnesses prosecutors, court staff and jurors in the case.

The former president's past inflammatory public remarks had shown there's a clear sign of danger, the judge reasoned.

"It is without question that the imminency of the risk of harm is now paramount," Merchan wrote.

Trump had yet to comment as of publication, but his Truth Social account Tuesday included posts in which he attacked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, key witness Michael Cohen, Merchan and Merchan's daughter.

"Judge Juan Merchan, a very distinguished looking man, is nevertheless a true and certified Trump Hater who suffers from a very serious case of Trump Derangement Syndrome," Trump posted. "In other words, he hates me!"

The gag order does not apply to Bragg because he's an elected official.

Trump's trial is scheduled to begin April 15.

The case centers in part around accusations that Trump made indirect hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused Trump of falsifying business records related to those payments to hide damaging information before the election about Daniels' accusations that she had an affair with Trump.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.