Judge in Manafort Trial Issues Gag Order

The judge overseeing the federal case against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort on Wednesday issued a gag order to prevent lawyers, defendants, and witnesses from making public statements that could prejudice the jury.

“In order to safeguard defendants’ rights to a fair trial, and to ensure that the court has the ability to seat a jury that has not been tainted by pretrial publicity, all interested participants in the matter, including the parties, any potential witnesses, and counsel for the parties and the witnesses, are hereby ordered to refrain from making statements to the media or in public settings that pose a substantial likelihood of material prejudice to this case,” Judge Amy Berman Jackson wrote.