Late last night, former President Donald Trump lost the battle over the partial gag order with Judge Tanya S. Chutkan in his federal election subversion trial.
The reinstated order restricts what Trump can say about prosecutors and witnesses. It follows Trump’s decision to post on social media that he wouldn’t expect Mark Meadows to testify before the federal grand jury “merely for getting IMMUNITY” but “Some people would make that deal.”
“[T]hey are weaklings and cowards, and so bad for the future of our Failing Nation,” Trump added.
Meadows told investigators, “Obviously, we didn’t win [the election],” agreeing with the assessment that the 2020 presidential election was the “most secure” in American history.
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team responded by urging Chutkan to reinstate the gag order immediately, arguing that Trump’s “recent social media posts targeting a known witness in this case in an attempt to influence and intimidate him.”
Trump’s lawyers asked for a prolonged freeze on the gag order while a federal appeals court in Washington reviews it. On Sunday, the motion was denied by Judge Chutkan.
The former president’s legal team unsuccessfully argued that the order violated Trump’s First Amendment rights as he maintains a dominate front-runner status in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries.
Trump promptly responded to news on Truth Social:
“I have just learned that the very Biased, Trump Hating Judge in D.C., who should have RECUSED herself due to her blatant and open loathing of your favorite President, ME, has reimposed a GAG ORDER which will put me at a disadvantage against my prosecutorial and political opponents,” he wrote on his social media platform.
“Few can believe this is happening, but I will appeal. How can they tell the leading candidate that he, and only he, is seriously restricted from campaigning in a free and open manner? It will not stand!”
Axios further reports:
Details of the latest ruling by Chutkan, who’s overseeing the case being prosecuted by special counsel Jack Smith’s team, were not immediately available.
…
Chutkan issued a narrow gag order barring “interested parties,” including Trump, from making any public statements targeting the special counsel or his staff, witnesses or court staff.
The Obama-appointed judge granted a temporary stay in the matter on Oct. 20 following a request from the Republican presidential front-runner’s lawyers to allow for more time to explain their request.
Since then, Trump has lashed out at individuals connected to his civil and criminal cases, including a member of New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron’s staff.
In the N.Y. case, Judge Arthur Engoron has twice issued Trump with fines that total $15,000 for violating his order against making any public statements targeting the special counsel or his staff, witnesses or court staff.
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