Former President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Special Counsel Jack Smith during a rally in Claremont, New Hampshire, on Saturday. Notably, Trump extended his disapproval to include references to Smith’s family, alleging, “his wife and family despise me much more than he does.”
Trump, who has consistently labeled Smith as a “deranged” and “Trump-hating prosecutor,” reiterated his claims at the rally. Smith is currently overseeing two federal cases against the former president, focusing on alleged mishandling of classified documents and Trump’s role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
These comments from the former president come amid heightened scrutiny of his public statements regarding the ongoing criminal cases. As a criminal defendant, Trump faces restrictions on attempting to intimidate witnesses or interfere with legal proceedings. A federal appellate court is actively reviewing the constitutionality of a gag order placed on Trump, specifically related to his federal election subversion case in Washington, DC.
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The court temporarily halted the gag order, pending appeal, but had previously prohibited Trump from commenting on Smith, other prosecutors involved in the case, their families, and court personnel, with potential sanctions or jail time as consequences for any violations.
During the Claremont rally, Trump continued his verbal assault on Smith, characterizing him as a “disgrace to America” and insinuating a high level of intimidation associated with Smith’s investigation. Trump asserted, “I really don’t care. I just want to do what’s right for the country.”
A significant portion of Trump’s criticism centered around Smith’s family, particularly his wife, filmmaker Katy Chevigny. Chevigny, who donated $2,000 to the Biden campaign in 2020, was also a producer for a Netflix documentary about former first lady Michelle Obama. Notably, Smith himself is a registered independent and has not donated to Democratic campaigns.
The gag order imposed by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, DC, was prompted by concerns raised by prosecutors about Trump potentially intimidating witnesses or encouraging harm against prosecutors through public comments. Trump promptly appealed and sought to temporarily pause the gag order during the appeal process. A three-judge panel at the US DC Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted the order to allow more time for consideration.
The appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments on the gag order before Thanksgiving, marking a crucial moment in the ongoing legal battle surrounding Trump’s public commentary on the criminal cases against him.
