Special Counsel Jack Smith is encouraging District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to uphold a gag order she previously issued against former President Donald Trump. Smith says the gag order is needed to make sure Trump can undergo trial regarding the 2020 election without any question of “harassment, intimidation, and threats.”
Trump Targets Jack Smith After Judge Temporarily Lifts Gag Order pic.twitter.com/HDwAZVkTsR
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) October 23, 2023
Judge Chutkan paused the gag order last week, taking time to consider Trump’s request. His legal team is asking for an extension on the stay issues on the order pending appeal.
In contrast, the prosecution is requesting that Chutkan reinstate the order, claiming that Trump will “continue to threaten the integrity of these proceedings and put trial participants at risk” if she doesn’t take a hard line on the issue.
It reads, “The defendant knows the effect of his targeting and seeks to use it to his strategic advantage while simultaneously disclaiming any responsibility for the very acts he causes.”
Federal prosecutors urge Judge Tanya Chutkan to reinstate Trump gag order, citing comments about ex-chief of staff Mark Meadowshttps://t.co/cvmE7DqdFX pic.twitter.com/UxKbRx3DXh
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 26, 2023
The prosecution claims Trump and the individuals he targets are well aware of the intention of the comments he makes about them. Further, they signaled that his audience understands what he’s implying — and sometimes overtly stating — as well. They assert that his behavior lays the foundation for real danger that borders on witness tampering by intimidating such witnesses.
Prosecutors assert that Trump’s comments may lead to “attorneys, public servants, and other court staff will themselves become targets or for threats and harassment.”
On the heels of Chutkan’s suspension of the gag order, Trump continued to lambast his critics. Such commentary included a remark he made about Mark Meadows, a former White House Chief of Staff. Trump shared on Truth Social:
“Some people would make that deal, but they are weaklings and cowards, and so bad for the future of our Failing Nation. I don’t think that Mark Meadows is one of them, but who really knows?”
Now, the prosecution is calling Trump out for using the temporary stay to his advantage. Was he, or did he merely re-engage in behavior he had been known to exhibit prior to the gag order being put in place?
NEW: In a breathless, 32-page motion filed yesterday, Special Counsel Jack Smith asks Judge Chutkan to lift her own stay on gag order against Trump AND to modify his conditions of release to set up a tighter contempt trap against Trump.
These people are, indeed, deranged. pic.twitter.com/jeQ7jOdCEy
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) October 26, 2023
Critics of the gag order — including the ACLU — are calling it unconstitutional.
Special Counsel Jack Smith continues to push the court to gag Trump. https://t.co/EUjIoPsDxU The gag order in my view is unconstitutional and Smith is, again, dismissing free speech concerns in his sweeping filing… https://t.co/tPSIuqbeW4
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) October 26, 2023
As Trump continues to wade through one legal snafu after another — claiming they’re all trumped up to derail his campaign — his campaign fundraising has reportedly soared. He currently leads the GOP in polls and presents more cash on hand than his nearest competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Trump Campaign Raised Over $45.5 Million in Q3 with More Than $37.5 Million Cash On Hand pic.twitter.com/MLN5QDfJ2J
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) October 4, 2023
