Trump hush money trial judge shoots down former president's claim that gag order prevents him from testifying

The judge presiding over Donald Trump's criminal trial told him Friday he has an "absolute right" to testify after the former president complained to reporters the gag order in the case prevented him from doing so.

The judge presiding over Donald Trump's criminal trial told him Friday he has an "absolute right" to testify after the former president complained to reporters the gag order in the case prevented him from doing so.

In remarks outside the courtroom Thursday, Trump said, "I'm not allowed to testify. I'm under a gag order" that he said he would be appealing. "I'm not allowed to testify because this judge who's totally conflicted, has me under an unconstitutional gag order," he reiterated.

At the beginning of court proceedings Friday, Judge Juan Merchan said that it had come to his attention that Trump may have misunderstood his order. "It does not prohibit you from taking the stand,” Merchan said. Commonly known as a "gag order," the judge's decision is actually called an order "restricting extrajudicial statements" — statements made outside of court.

“As the name of the order indicates, it only applies to extrajudicial statements,” Merchan said. Trump then mouthed, "Thank you."

On the way into court Friday, Trump complained “This judge has taken away my constitutional right.” “We’re filing, I think today, a constitutional motion,” he said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-hush-money-trial-michael-cohen-rcna150445

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