New York prosecutors are seeking a limited gag order against former President Donald Trump in an effort to safeguard the integrity of the criminal proceeding set for next month. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office filed a court document on Monday outlining the necessity for the protective measure. The requested restriction is primarily aimed at preventing Trump from discussing witnesses, court staff, and related parties. The move comes as a response to Trump's history of making inflammatory remarks about individuals involved in legal proceedings against him.

In a pre-trial motion, Trump's lawyers have requested the exclusion of key witnesses in the case, including former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, adult film star Stormy Daniels, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The defense team paints Cohen and Daniels as unreliable sources and deems McDougal's testimony as potentially prejudicial. The prosecution is pushing for a tailored order that limits Trump from making public statements about certain individuals involved in the investigation or trial.

The judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, previously issued a protective order prohibiting Trump from disclosing evidence obtained through discovery. The DA's filing underscores Trump's past behavior, citing threats made against judicial officials and prosecutors. The document also highlights the numerous threats received by the DA's office in connection with Trump's public attacks.

The criminal case revolves around payments made by Trump to reimburse Cohen for hush money paid to Daniels in 2016 to conceal an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Trump's attorneys argue that Cohen should be barred from testifying due to previous lies under oath, while they seek to keep Daniels and McDougal off the stand citing concerns over the credibility and relevance of their testimonies.

Trump's defense team further aims to prevent certain terms and allegations from being presented to the jury, arguing against the prosecution's interpretation of Trump's actions surrounding the payoff as attempting to defraud or influence the 2016 election outcome. The judge's recent ruling denying Trump's attempt to dismiss the case supports the serious nature of the allegations against the former president.