Prosecutors with the special counsel's office have asked Judge Tanya Chutkan for a gag order to restrict former President Donald Trump from making public statements about prospective witnesses in the election interference case, which they state could be intimidating.
The filing seeks a “narrowly tailored” gag order against the GOP front-runner. In it, prosecutors assess that “The defendant's past conduct, including conduct that has taken place after and as a direct result of the indictment in this case, amply demonstrates the need for this order.”
BREAKING: Jack Smith is seeking a gag order to restrict trumps pre-trial extrajudicial statements. 1/ pic.twitter.com/YT5kFMpMjH
— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) September 15, 2023
Trump responded on social media minutes later.
“So, I'm campaigning for President against an incompetent person who has WEAPONIZED the DOJ & FBI to go after his Political Opponent, & I am not allowed to COMMENT?”
— Daniel Baldwin (@baldwin_daniel_) September 15, 2023
Pres. Trump reacts to Jack Smith seeking to place a gag order on him. pic.twitter.com/s7YzVKKrQk
Fox News has more:
In a filing, Smith's office accused Trump of engaging in a sweeping campaign of disinformation and harassment intended to intimidate prosecutors and undermine public confidence in the judicial system during his prosecution.
“In service of his criminal conspiracies, through false public statements, the defendant sought to erode public faith in the administration of the election and intimidate individuals who refuted his lies,” the filing said.
“The defendant is now attempting to do the same thing in this criminal case — to undermine confidence in the criminal justice system and prejudice the jury pool through disparaging and inflammatory attacks on the citizens of this District, the Court, prosecutors, and prospective witnesses,” the filing said.
If approved by Judge Tanya Chutkan, the “well-defined restriction” would prohibit Trump from making statements regarding the identity, testimony, or credibility of prospective witnesses.
Trump pleaded not guilty last month to federal charges that accuse him of illegally attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
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Why
Something to hide Smith
” F ” you Jack Smith … you are the one that should be put behind bars for being a CRIMINAL ! … You can not take away President Trumps 1st Amendment Rights so shut the ” F ” Up !