According to the Associated Press, a judge has ordered former President Donald Trump to appear for a virtual hearing on May 23 regarding his Manhattan criminal case, after the judge had previously set rules preventing Trump from using evidence to verbally or in written form attack witnesses. 

Donald Trump’s legal representatives are complaining that the proposed restrictions on the former president discussing evidence and witnesses related to his criminal case are excessively limiting and could adversely affect his presidential campaign.

In a legal filing, attorneys Susan Necheles, Joe Tacopina, and Todd Blanche objected to the Manhattan District Attorney’s recommended protective order, claiming it was unparalleled and excessively broad. They stressed that such an order would violate Trump’s First Amendment rights and the rights of the American public to hear his point of view.

The submission came as a response to the prosecutors’ motion to prevent Trump from publicly disclosing evidence handed to his defense team as the case heads to trial next year. Assistant District Attorney Catherine McCaw argued that protective measures were essential due to the substantial risk of Trump misusing the evidence. McCaw suggested that the defense be limited to using discovery materials strictly for trial purposes and that Trump should only examine the evidence in the presence of his lawyers.

McCaw underscored Trump’s history of attacking witnesses and others involved in legal proceedings against him, placing them in considerable danger. She mentioned Trump’s criticisms of his former personal attorney Michael Cohen and adult film star Stormy Daniels, both expected to be key witnesses in the case.

Trump’s lawyers asserted that the proposed protective order unfairly limited the defense from discussing the evidence publicly, while not placing similar restrictions on prosecutors or witnesses. They advocated for a more confined version of the order, arguing it was unwarranted given the absence of evidence indicating Trump’s past misuse of discovery materials.