A federal judge on Monday issued a gag order on former President Donald Trump, limiting what he can say about special counsel Jack Smith’s federal prosecution into his alleged attempt to subvert in the 2020 presidential election.
The order restricts Trump’s ability to publicly target court personnel, potential witnesses, or the special counsel and his staff. The order did not impose restrictions on disparaging comments about Washington, DC, – where the jury will take place – or certain comments about the Justice Department at large, both of which the government requested.
“This is not about whether I like the language Mr. Trump uses,” Judge Tanya Chutkan said. “This is about language that presents a danger to the administration of justice.”
“His presidential candidacy does not give him carte blanche to vilify public servants who are simply doing their jobs,” the judge added.
It would feel much better if any of them had the balls to actually enforce these orders.
Time will tell - this judge doesn’t seem to lack the guts to do so if necessary. But my understanding is that jail time is a ‘last resort’ after fines and other punishments. I’m under no delusion that Trump will be thrown in Jail in the near future.
She’s threatened to move up the trial date if he violates the order as a way of limiting the effect his words can have on court officers and potential witnesses. This would be terrible for him since his whole strategy is to delay until after the election when he believes he will become president again and can make it all go away.
I really like Judge Chutkan so far.
He is being given a rope, it’s his choice whether he hangs himself with it. You can’t go straight to throwing him in prison you at least have to demonstrate ill intent.
I wouldn’t worry, he will definitely violate these terms, if you gave Donald Trump a button that said do not press under any circumstances, pressing this button will result in the destruction of the universe he’d press it before you could finish reading the sign. The man has no self-control.