Despite criticism over the gag order placed on Donald Trump in his hush money trial, a CNN panel has suggested extending the restriction to all witnesses.
A panel discussion on CNN recently sparked controversy after prominent Trump critic and liberal journalist Kara Swisher proposed that a gag order should be imposed on all witnesses in the former president's hush money trial, not just Trump.
The discussion stemmed from Judge Juan Merchan's refusal to dismiss a gag order on Trump, prohibiting him from commenting on any witnesses, the jury, or the district attorney's staff. Swisher argued that extending the gag order to all witnesses would ensure impartiality and prevent potential witness intimidation.
"I think they should put the gag order on all of them," Swisher declared. "I have to say, I think they should put it on Cohen, he's been all over the place."
New York Times journalist Lulu Garcia-Navarro concurred with Swisher's suggestion, adding, "Yeah, that too."
Cohen, Trump's former attorney and current Trump critic, is scheduled to testify in the trial on Monday. He has previously made disparaging comments about Trump on social media, fundraising off the case, and wearing a T-shirt depicting Trump behind bars.
The CNN panel also mentioned other potential witnesses, including adult film star Stormy Daniels, who testified against Trump and provided salacious details about their alleged sexual encounter.
"Stormy Daniels, everyone," Swisher said, adding, "That seems fair. Because social media is everywhere."
Trump's lawyers have argued that the gag order is unilateral and only applies to Trump. However, Garcia-Navarro defended the judge's actions, stating that Trump's past behavior had warranted the precaution.
"But what the judge said is that, because Donald Trump has proven himself to be so over the top when he goes after people, so prejudicial, that it is, actually, important to keep the gag order on," she said.
The panel's suggestion has drawn mixed reactions, with some observers supporting the need for witness protection and others concerned about potential suppression of information. The trial is expected to continue with further developments in the coming days.
