Judge issues gag order barring Donald Trump from commenting over hush money case

Prosecutors had asked for the gag order citing what they called his 'long history of making public and inflammatory remarks' about people involved in his legal cases

Former president Donald Trump (Frank Franklin II/AP)

A New York judge has issued a gag order barring Donald Trump from making public statements about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush money criminal trial.

Judge Juan M Merchan cited Mr Trump’s previous comments about him and others involved in the case, as well as a looming April 15 trial date in granting the prosecution’s request for a gag order.