NEW YORK—At the end of a week of lively direct and cross-examination in the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump, his lawyers asked Justice Juan Merchan to impose a gag order on Michael Cohen, the defendant’s former attorney and “fixer,” who they said has not refrained from attacking President Trump on social media despite repeated promises to do so.
Attorney Todd Blanche got up in the courtroom to argue that it was unfair for Mr. Cohen to attack President Trump constantly in a public forum while the GOP’s front-runner is himself subject to a gag order so strict that Justice Merchan earlier this week threatened to impose a jail sanction in the event of further violations.
