(ConservativeSense.com) – Former President Donald Trump was just hit with a gag order by the judge overseeing the federal case against the former president related to allegations of attempting to overthrow the 2020 presidential election.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the gag order on Monday. The order will prevent Trump from making public statements that may target prosecutors, court staff, or any possible witnesses in the case.
Trump was indicted in Washington, D.C., on August 1 on four counts: conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, attempting to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the US, and against the American people’s right to a fairly counted vote.
The federal prosecution team is headed by special counsel Jack Smith, who is now raising the alarm about Trump’s public statements. After the indictment, to which Trump pleaded not guilty, the former president called Smith “deranged” and said he doesn’t believe the trial will be fair.
Smith argues that the former president’s comments about him, other prosecutors, the judge, and potential witnesses pose a risk to the trial by undermining the public’s confidence in the judicial system. Smith says Trump’s comments may also cause potential jurors and witnesses to feel intimidated and harassed. The prosecution team accuses Trump of using his online platform in an attempt to taint the jury pool.
Chutkan said the milestone gag order would prevent Trump from launching a “smear campaign” against the court and federal prosecutors, although he would be allowed to criticize the Department of Justice in general and express his belief that the charges against the former president are politically motivated.
John Lauro, head of Trump’s legal team, accused the federal prosecutors of trying “to censor a political candidate” during an active campaign, to which the judge replied that Trump has no right “to say and do” whatever he wants. Trump’s team argues that the order is unconstitutional and violates the presidential candidate’s First Amendment right to free speech.
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