NEW YORK (AP) A New York judge Tuesday issued a gag order barring Donald Trump from making public statements about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.

Judge Juan M. Merchan cited Trumps previous comments about him and others involved in the case, as well as a looming April 15 trial date in granting the prosecutions request for a gag order.

It is without question that the imminency of the risk of harm is now paramount, Merchan wrote.

Prosecutors had asked for the gag order citing what they called his long history of making public and inflammatory remarks about people involved in his legal cases.

The order also bars Trump from making or directing others to make public statements about people involved in the trial, but it does not apply to the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg because he is an elected official.

The gag order adds to restrictions put in place after Trumps arraignment last April that prohibit him from using evidence in the case to attack witnesses.