A federal judge in Washington, DC, is set to decide whether to impose a gag order on former President Donald Trump due to his recent criticism of prosecutors, witnesses, and the judge overseeing his election subversion case. The move follows Trump’s fiery remarks after facing two federal indictments, escalating an already high-stakes legal battle.
According to a report by CNN, Judge Tanya Chutkan will oversee the hearing on Monday, October 16. Special Counsel Jack Smith argues that Trump’s aggressive comments require limiting the former president’s public statements about the case.
Judge Chutkan had previously warned Trump about the impact of his words on the trial. Despite the caution, Trump continued his criticism on social media, accusing Judge Chutkan of bias and labeling Smith and his team members as “deranged” and “thugs.”
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Trump’s legal team strongly opposes the proposed gag order, claiming it violates his First Amendment rights. They argue that it’s an attempt by the Biden Administration and the Justice Department to silence a political opponent.
If the gag order is enforced, it could lead to more legal battles, raising concerns about the speed of the federal proceedings against Trump. His defense team has alleged that the cases are being hurried to secure a conviction before the upcoming election.
Prosecutors argue that Trump’s continuous attacks on potential witnesses like former Vice President Mike Pence and former Attorney General Bill Barr might intimidate these witnesses and their supporters. They pointed out the impact of Trump’s public posts, citing an incident in August when someone was arrested for making racist death threats to the Court, linking these threats to its role in overseeing Trump’s case.
The hearing on Monday is expected to be a crucial moment in the ongoing legal battle. All eyes are on Judge Chutkan’s decision, which will determine Trump’s ability to express his opinions about the case publicly.
