The former US president, 76, was connected by video conference while prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers attended the Manhattan court in person.<\/p>\n
The sole purpose of the hearing was to ensure\u00a0Trump<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is aware of new rules barring him from using evidence turned over by prosecutors to target and attack witnesses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Judge Juan Merchan first addressed Trump – warning the former president that if he violates a protective order set down in the case he could face sanctions, including contempt of court.<\/p>\n Addressing Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche – who was sat next to the former president – Judge Merchan said: “Did you also explain this order is a mandate of the court?<\/p>\n Mr Blanche replied: “He understands he needs to comply and if he doesn’t it would violate the court order.”<\/p>\n “Contempt is punishable,” said Judge Merchan.<\/p>\n “Understood,” replied Mr Blanche.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Following the hearing, Trump criticised the decision to hold his trial on 25 March next year, calling it “election interference”.<\/p>\n He posted on the social media platform Truth: “Just had New York County Supreme Court hearing where I believe my First Amendment Rights,”Freedom of Speech,” have been violated, and they forced upon us a trial date of March 25th, right in the middle of Primary season.<\/p>\n “Very unfair, but this is exactly what the Radical Left Democrats wanted. It’s called ELECTION INTERFERENCE, and nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before!!!”<\/p>\n Mr Merchan agreed to the extra step of personally instructing Trump on the restrictions after listing them in what’s known as a protective order on 8 May.<\/p>\n Prosecutors sought the order soon after Trump’s arrest, citing what they say is his history of making “harassing, embarrassing, and threatening statements” about people he has been involved in legal disputes with.<\/p>\n In March, Trump warned of possible\u00a0“death and destruction”<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0if he was indicted for making alleged hush payments to\u00a0Stormy Daniels<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Read more: The former porn actress, who claimed Trump’s lawyers made a $130,000 (\u00a3105,000) payment to her in 2016 in exchange for her silence over an extramarital sexual encounter a decade earlier, also said she has received\u00a0death threats<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0from Trump supporters\u00a0since the facts of the charges were made public<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The order prevents Trump from disseminating evidence to third parties or posting on social media, and that certain, sensitive material shared by prosecutors be kept only by his lawyers.<\/p>\n Mr Merchan has made clear that the order should not be construed as a gag order, and the former president, who has a “special” status, has a right to publicly defend himself.<\/p>\n Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges in court, even as he makes a bid to retake the White House in 2024.<\/p>\n His lawyers are seeking to have his criminal case moved to federal court.<\/p>\n Earlier this month Trump was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer\u00a0E Jean Carroll<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in the 1990s.<\/p>\n Despite consistently denying Ms Carroll’s claims, he was ordered to pay the former Elle magazine advice columnist $5m (\u00a34m) in damages.<\/p>\n Barely a day after the jury’s rule in New York, Trump was seen\u00a0mocking Ms Carroll on prime-time television<\/a><\/strong>, calling her a “wack job” and claiming the judge was “biased”.<\/p>\n Source: \u00a0![\"Donald](\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/23\/05\/768x432\/skynews-trump-court-stormy-daniels_6165407.jpg?20230523202020\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/23\/04\/768x432\/skynews-donald-trump-manhattan_6111364.jpg?20230405072731\")
<\/div>
\nEverything you need to know about Donald Trump’s court case<\/a>
\nHow many investigations is Trump facing?<\/a>
\nAnalysis: The more Trump is portrayed as victim of injustice, the more his supporters rally around him<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Stormy](\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/23\/03\/768x432\/skynews-stormy-daniels-donald-trump_6106226.jpg?20230331200240\")
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