'Can't fault them for that': Judge backs DA's refusal to give Trump lawyer witness list

New York Judge Juan Merchan said he would not order prosecutors to disclose a witness list to the defense team in light of former President Donald Trump's attacks on figures connected to his hush-money case.

At the conclusion of the third day of jury selection in Trump's first criminal trial, defense attorney Todd Blanche asked the prosecution which witnesses would be called first.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass noted that Trump made social media posts about several potential witnesses, which prosecutors say violated the judge's gag order.

"What if I commit to the court that President Trump will not" post Truth posts about witnesses, Blanche says," Tyler McBrien of Lawfare tweeted.

"I don't think you can make that representation," Merchan replies.

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"We're not telling him who the witnesses are," Steinglass said, according to reports.

"I can't fault them for that," Merchan replied, noting he would not order the prosecution to turn over a witness list.

As of Thursday, 12 jurors and one alternate had been selected for the trial. Jury selection was expected to resume on Friday.