The judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's case has asked Michael Cohen to shut the hell up.
Judge Juan Merchan issued the request Friday after Trump's lawyers expressed concern about the out-of-court statements Cohen has made.
“I would direct people to let Mr. Cohen know that the judge is asking him to refrain from making any further statements about this case,” the judge said, according to ABC News. “This is coming from the bench and you are communicating it on behalf of the bench.”
Before Merchan issued the warrant, Trump attorney Todd Blanche listed numerous examples of Cohen making inappropriate mouthing, including one from a TikTok video featuring Cohen with a photo showing Trump behind the bars:
Michael Cohen is live on TikTok wearing a t-shirt depicting Donald Trump behind bars in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.
Cohen previously said he would “stop publishing anything” about Trump down the road: https://t.co/vIXWDCOBeY pic.twitter.com/ayLUfLBBHv
— Will Steakin (@wsteaks) May 9, 2024
“It's becoming an issue every day that President Trump is not allowed to respond to this testimony,” Blanche argued in court. “[Cohen] has declared on social media that he will stop speaking and he doesn't.”
“As reported, because it's true, Mr. Cohen has started going on TikTok every night and literally making money, apparently you can make money, with people doing things while they watch you on TikTok” , added.
Former Georgia State Attorney Chris Timmons, a contributor to ABC News, previously said that if he were to be prosecuted in this case, he would be “furious” because Cohen was getting his mouth shut and his credibility bleeding.
Jeremy Saland, a defense attorney who previously worked in the same district attorney's office prosecuting Trump's case, even speculated that Cohen's pencils would ultimately benefit Trump, not the court.
“I have no doubt that the Trump team is scrutinizing, listening and looking at everything they can, and rightly they will weaponize it in a court of law to knock down his credibility,” he said.
“If I'm the prosecution, I'm on the phone right now saying, 'Stop what you're doing, right now.' I can't force you, but you need to stop for your own good because it will make you worse in this room. And you're compromising the case,'” he added.
@michaelcohen_Join me every night at 10pm on TikTok for more raw, unfiltered and fun conversations!♬ original sound – Michael Cohen
But while Cohen's rant might help Trump, the former president still doesn't like it, especially since Merchan only issued him a warning against a gag order.
“There is no gag order for Michael Cohen,” Trump said Friday after court, according to The Hill. “What the judge did was incredible, actually. Everyone can say what they want, but I'm not allowed to say anything about anyone. It's a shame. What he's just done now is a joke. It's a shame.”
Trump is mad because, unlike Cohen, he has a gag order against him, one that he has repeatedly violated. Earlier this week, in fact, Merchan fined Trump $1,000 after accusing him of violating the gag order for the 10th time.
As previously reported, Merchan also warned that Trump could face jail time if he continues to violate the gag order.
All of this comes days before Cohen is set to testify against Trump detailing his role in negotiating Trump's famous cash payment to keep porn star Stormy Daniels quiet after he allegedly had an affair with her earlier of the 2016 presidential elections.
Although Cohen is a star witness for the prosecution, his credibility has already been severely damaged by his past, which includes convictions for campaign finance violations, false statements to Congress and tax evasion.
Then there's the fact that Cohen worked for Trump for years without complaint, only turning against the former president after he took office in early 2017.
Cohen is also active on the social media platform X, where Democratic voters who hate Trump have asked him to keep quiet so as not to jeopardize the case against Trump:
Dude… STFU. You're going to blow this and the whole case because you can't keep your trap shut like you said you would.
— ʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴘʏ Ⓛɪᴛᴛʟᴇ Đᴇᴍᴏᴄᴀᴛ (@HappyLilDemocat) May 11, 2024
We all want to see criminal defendant Trump behind bars. Can you suspend your social media accounts until the trial is over? Then you (and we) can send him taunting letters in prison.
— Zeb Haradon (@zebharadon) May 11, 2024
@MichaelCohen212 Please stop jabbing Trump… The judge has
You have been asked to stop… If you continue, you will ruin the case. New York State is against Donald Trump and he's going to walk… We know that's not what you want. Please stop talking about him– Lisa (@lisa79760217) May 11, 2024
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