Donald Trump has resumed his public criticism of Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, via a recent post on Truth Social.
This move could potentially clash with the restrictions of a gag order which prohibits him from making public remarks about witnesses in his impending New York criminal trial.
Trump openly questioned, “Has disgraced attorney and felon Michael Cohen been prosecuted for LYING? Only TRUMP people get prosecuted by this Judge and these thugs!”
The trial, marking the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president, is set to begin on Monday with jury selection.
Cohen, a central figure in the case, is expected to testify that Trump directed him to arrange a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels (real name Stephanie Clifford) to suppress her from disclosing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump prior to the 2016 election.
Trump has denied these allegations and pleaded not guilty.
Justice Juan Merchan, presiding over the trial, had previously implemented a gag order in March, upon the prosecutors’ request, to prevent Trump from discussing case witnesses.
This order was expanded on April 1 to include his family and those of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, though it does not apply to Merchan and Bragg themselves.
Trump, who is also the Republican candidate for the upcoming November election, has characterized the legal actions against him as a form of political persecution.
At a recent campaign event in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, he denounced both Merchan and Bragg, labeling the judge as “highly conflicted and corrupt” and accusing the district attorney of attempting to undermine his campaign against President Joe Biden.
In 2018, Cohen admitted to federal charges of violating campaign finance laws related to the payment to Daniels and also to misleading Congress in 2017 about a Moscow real estate deal, claiming he lied to protect Trump.
Earlier in the week, Trump attacked both Cohen and Daniels, another likely witness for the prosecution, on his social platform, disparaging them as “sleaze bags.”
The district attorney’s office has yet to comment on these developments.