How to Get Donald Trump to Obey Gag Order: Michael Cohen

Michael Cohen, former attorney to Donald Trump, suggested that the only way for the former president to obey a gag order amid his ongoing $250 million civil fraud trial is to threaten to put him in a cell.

Judge Arthur Engoron fined Trump for the second time on Wednesday after he violated a partial gag order imposed to stop him from attacking court staff overseeing New York Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit accusing Trump of fraudulently inflating the value of his property and assets in financial statements for years. Trump, who is campaigning for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and is the current frontrunner, has denied any wrongdoing and has called the trial politically motivated.

During Wednesday's proceedings in New York, Engoron ordered Trump to take the witness stand to answer questions about comments he gave to reporters about a "very partisan" individual "sitting alongside" the judge in the courtroom, an apparent reference to Engoron's longtime law clerk Allison Greenfield. The judge ultimately ruled that Trump violated the gag order for a second time by publicly attacking Greenfield and fined him $10,000. Once again, he warned that Trump could face even greater punishment if there are further serious transgressions.

On October 20, Engoron first fined Trump $5,000 for violating the gag order by not removing a post from his social media site, Truth Social, more than two weeks after the judge ordered its deletion.

While speaking with Reverend Al Sharpton on MSNBC on Saturday Cohen said, "Let me be clear about this. This was the most limited gag order that I've ever seen. It was so limited it was almost impossible to actually violate it if you're anyone other than Donald Trump... he can't help himself."

Cohen later added, "The only thing that's going to stop him is if they actually say to him, you know what, next time you're going to stay downstairs in the cell for the entire night. Don't do it again. Because what the judge said to him, you are not only creating a hassle but what you're doing is dangerous to my staff. And I won't allow it."

Meanwhile, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg told Newsweek on Saturday, "Trump will continue thumbing his nose at the court, but don't expect Judge Engoron to jail the former President. This is a civil case, so judge will escalate the fines but will not throw Trump in jail. Judge Chutkan, however, could do it if Trump continues to attack witnesses in the federal criminal case in Washington, DC."

U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan was assigned to oversee Trump's case after the former president was charged with four counts related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Newsweek has reached out to Trump's campaign via email for comment.