Special Counsel Jack Smith is calling for a “narrow” silence order against Donald Trump after “intimidating” remarks in the Jan. 6 case
- The Federal Prosecutor’s Office issued the extraordinary application on Friday afternoon
- Quoted posts from Truth Social calling Jack Smith a “thug” and a “lunatic.”
- Trump’s team said the order was an attempt to “take away” his First Amendment rights.
Special counsel Jack Smith has called for a “narrow” gag order against Donald Trump to prevent him from making “inflammatory” and “intimidating” comments toward the judge and witnesses in the Jan. 6 federal trial.
Smith’s team accuses Trump of engaging in a campaign of “disinformation” and harassment aimed at intimidating witnesses, prosecutors and others involved in the trial.
The extraordinary filing says Trump’s efforts to weaken trust in the court system reflect his attacks on the 2020 election and results.
Trump has called Smith a “thug,” a “lunatic,” a “lunatic” and a “Trump hater” in his posts on the Truth Social platform since he was indicted over allegations that he hired “fake voters” to help secure Trump’s election victory Joe Biden in 2020. criminal scheme”.
Special counsel Jack Smith has called for a “narrow” gag order against Donald Trump to prevent him from making “inflammatory” and “intimidating” comments toward the judge and witnesses in the Jan. 6 federal trial
Among the statements prosecutors cited in their motion was another Truth Social post in which Trump wrote in all caps: “If you’re after me, I’m after you!”
He has also repeatedly stated that the case against him was “rigged” and that he could not receive a fair trial
Federal prosecutors said in a motion filed Friday that such a “narrow, well-defined” order was necessary to preserve the integrity of the case and avoid prejudice to potential jurors.
“Since the grand jury indicted this case, the defendant has repeatedly and widely distributed public statements attacking the citizens of the District of Columbia, the court, prosecutors, and potential witnesses,” prosecutors wrote.
Trump has called Smith a “thug,” a “lunatic,” a “lunatic” and a “Trump hater” in his posts on the Truth Social platform since he was indicted over allegations that he hired “fake voters” to help secure Trump’s election victory Joe Biden in 2020 to overturn a “criminal plan”
“Through his statements, the defendant threatens to undermine the integrity of this trial and prejudice the jury.”
“The defendant is now attempting to do the same thing in this criminal case – undermining trust in the criminal justice system and damaging the jury through derogatory and inflammatory attacks on the citizens of this county, the court, prosecutors and potential witnesses,” they wrote.
A Trump spokesman responded to the filing, claiming that prosecutors “corruptly and cynically continue to attempt to deprive President Trump of his First Amendment rights.”