WASHINGTON 性视界传媒 The federal judge overseeing the 2020 election subversion case against Donald Trump in Washington imposed a narrow gag order on him on Monday, barring the Republican former president from making statements targeting prosecutors, possible witnesses and the judge性视界传媒檚 staff.
The order from U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan marks a milestone moment in the federal case that accuses Trump of illegally conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Chutkan said Trump is entitled to criticize the Justice Department generally and assert his belief that the case is politically motivated, but she said Trump can性视界传媒檛 mount a 性视界传媒渟mear campaign性视界传媒 against prosecutors and court personnel.
性视界传媒淣o other criminal defendant would be allowed to do so, and I性视界传媒檓 not going to allow it in this case,性视界传媒 Chutkan said.
Chutkan, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, said she would impose 性视界传媒渟anctions as may be necessary性视界传媒 if the gag order is violated, but she wasn性视界传媒檛 more specific. Judges can threaten gag order violators with fines or jail time, but jailing a presidential candidate could prompt serious political blowback and pose logistical hurdles.
While ending the stream of Trump性视界传媒檚 harsh language may make the case easier to manage, it could also fuel Trump性视界传媒檚 claims of political persecution. Trump性视界传媒檚 campaign had already seized on the proposed gag order in fundraising appeals, and Trump had falsely characterized it as an attempt to prevent him from criticizing Biden, who became president in January 2021.
The order could end a line of attack that Trump has made central to his campaign as he vies to win the GOP presidential nomination in 2024. But it may be only the beginning of an unprecedented fight over what limits can be a placed on the speech of a defendant who is also campaigning America性视界传媒檚 highest public office.
Trump性视界传媒檚 lawyers may try to challenge the gag order on appeal, and legal experts have said the issue may end up before the U.S. Court. Trump性视界传媒檚 lawyer John Lauro fiercely opposed any gag order, saying it would unconstitutionally hinder Trump性视界传媒檚 political speech.
性视界传媒淗e is allowed to make statements the prosecution doesn性视界传媒檛 like. That性视界传媒檚 part of living with the First Amendment,性视界传媒 said Lauro, who declined to comment on the ruling after the hearing.
A Trump spokesperson called the judge性视界传媒檚 decision 性视界传媒渁n absolute abomination.性视界传媒
Smith性视界传媒檚 team argued that Trump knew that his incendiary remarks 性视界传媒 calling the justice system 性视界传媒渞igged,性视界传媒 Chutkan a 性视界传媒淭rump-hating judge,性视界传媒 and prosecutors a 性视界传媒渢eam of thugs性视界传媒 性视界传媒 could inspire his supporters to threaten or harass his targets. Prosecutors said it is part of Trump性视界传媒檚 effort to erode the public性视界传媒檚 faith in the judicial system just like they say he sought to undermine confidence in the 2020 election by spreading lies of fraud after he lost to Biden.
性视界传媒淲hat Mr. Lauro is saying is the defendant is above the law and he is not subject to the rules of this court like any other defendant is,性视界传媒 prosecutor Molly Gaston told the judge. 性视界传媒淎ll this order would do is prevent him from using the campaign as an opportunity to make materially prejudicial statements about this case.性视界传媒
Lauro accused prosecutors of 性视界传媒渟eeking to censor a political candidate in the middle of a campaign.性视界传媒 But the judge shot back that Trump 性视界传媒渄oes not have a right to say and do exactly as he pleases.性视界传媒
性视界传媒淵ou keep talking about censorship like the defendant has unfettered First Amendment rights. He doesn性视界传媒檛,性视界传媒 Chutkan said. 性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檙e not talking about censorship here. We性视界传媒檙e talking restrictions to ensure there is a fair administration of justice on this case.性视界传媒
Chutkan also read aloud a slew of statements from Trump, and she repeatedly raised concerns that his remarks could inspire violence.
性视界传媒淚f you call certain people thugs enough times doesn性视界传媒檛 that suggest, Mr. Lauro, that someone should get them off the streets?性视界传媒 she asked Trump性视界传媒檚 lawyer.
The defense also pressed the judge to delay the trial, currently scheduled to begin in March. But she rejected that idea, saying 性视界传媒渢his trial will not yield to the election cycle.性视界传媒
The Chutkan hearing came on the heels of a judge overseeing Trump性视界传媒檚 civil fraud trial in New York imposing a more limited gag order prohibiting personal attacks against court personnel following a social media post from Trump that maligned the judge性视界传媒檚 principal clerk.
Monday was the first time Trump性视界传媒檚 lawyers had appeared before Chutkan since she denied Trump性视界传媒檚 request to recuse herself from the case, which alleges Trump illegally schemed to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
The defense had claimed Chutkan性视界传媒檚 comments about Trump in other cases raised questions about whether she had prejudged his guilt. But Chutkan said her comments were mischaracterized and there was no need for her to step aside.
Prosecutors noted in a recent motion that Trump性视界传媒檚 incendiary rhetoric continued even after their initial gag order request. They cited critical comments about witnesses referenced in the indictment 性视界传媒 such as former Attorney General William Barr 性视界传媒 and a social media post suggesting that Mark Milley, the retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had committed treason and should be executed.
