Special counsel Jack Smith asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to impose a gag order on former President Donald Trump over his “almost daily” social media attacks on people involved in the case that will lead to his trial for attempting to undermine the election. from March on.
Smith told the federal court in Washington that Trump’s repeated attacks on Justice Department officials, residents of the US capital and the judge in the case, Chutkan, could frighten witnesses and the jury, which is made up of local people , which would undermine its impartiality.
“Since indictment in this case, the defendant has published derogatory and inflammatory public postings in Truth Social about the citizens of the District of Columbia, the court, prosecutors, and potential witnesses on an almost daily basis,” the prosecutor wrote in the 19-page motion. He also pointed out that Trump’s comments resulted in real threats from his supporters against prosecutors, the court and prospective jurors.
Smith asked the judge to ban Trump from making derogatory, inflammatory and intimidating statements about anyone involved or possibly related to the case, as well as statements about potential witnesses.
The motion cites a series of comments Trump made following the Aug. 1 indictment, such as the threat on social media that said in all caps, “If you come after me, I’ll come after you!” The former president accused Judge Chutkan of “fraud” and hating him, said Smith’s office is a “team of criminals” and even left bitter words for Washington: “dirty and full of crime.”
Shortly after the special counsel’s motion, Trump again called Smith “crazy,” writing on his Truth Social network, “They publish, lie, and persecute, and won’t let me speak?”
Source: DN
