A New York City judge imposed a protective order Monday in the Manhattan district attorney's criminal case against former President
Donald Trump that is meant to ensure evidence shared by the DA's office doesn't wind up on the internet.
Trump
pleaded not guilty last month to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection to what prosecutors call an "illegal scheme" to influence the 2016 presidential election by directing his then-personal attorney Michael Cohen to
pay $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from publicizing a long-denied affair with Trump.
MORE: Trump should not be subject to 'muzzle' regarding indictment, his attorneys say
Trump reimbursed Cohen through a series of monthly checks, which prosecutors say resulted in
falsified business records in order to disguise the true purpose of the payments.
"Any materials and information provided by the People to the Defense" during the trial "shall be used solely for the purposes of preparing a defense in this matter," the order, signed by Judge Juan Merchan, said.