Expert 'shocked' by Trump's court conduct: 'Gag orders are for hardcore criminals'

During an appearance on MSNBC, longtime Washington insider Jonathan Alter claimed that Donald Trump's gag orders are especially important to watch.

Alter, a contributor for MSNBC who has covered 11 presidential campaigns and recently secured a seat at the ex-president's hush money trial in New York starting April 15th, appeared on the network on Saturday. He was asked about the upcoming trial, which he will be observing.

"What to expect to see in court? What kind of evidence you expect to be featured?" the host asked.

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"Michael Cohen will be the star witness," Alter said, adding that Trump's former attorney and fixer "will deliver devastating testimony against him."

"We do not know whether Trump will take the stand in his own defense. It is less likely, given the steamy details of this case that he does. You cannot rule it out," he added. "In the meantime, something quite extraordinary happened at the end of last week."

"Judge Reggie Walton, a federal judge not connected to the case, took extraordinary action. He went on television and denounced Trump for his comments, which led to the gag order that Judge Merchan has applied in this case," he said. "And Judge Chutkan applied a gag order in the past."

He continued:

"Gag orders normally are for hardcore criminals who cannot restrain themselves. The idea that a former president of the United States needs a gag order not to attack our judges and system of government and court employees and relatives of the judge. It is shocking and we should not lose our sense of outrage about how horrible former president Trump's conduct is in this legal realm."

Watch the full MSNBC interview below or click the link here.