District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Friday lifted a gag order she issued against former President Donald Trump earlier this week that prevented him from criticizing prosecutors, court staff or their families.
Chutkan, who oversaw the 77-year-old former president’s 2020 election meddling case, waived the partial gag order, which also prevents Trump from discussing potential witnesses or testimony, to give his defense team and the Justice Department more time to file briefs related to the Republican presidential nominee’s request 2024 to stop the order.
“After considering the Appeal 110 Motion to Postpone the Defendant’s Stay, the Request for an Administrative Temporary Stay, and the Support Memorandum, it is hereby ORDERED that the court’s Opinion and Order 105 is administratively set aside to allow the parties to brief and the court’s consideration of the Defendant. Motion,” wrote Chutkan, 61, in a brief summary.
Chutkan temporarily suspended the partial gag order, which prevents Trump from criticizing prosecutors, court staff or their families. AP
He further ordered that special counsel Jack Smith’s team file any objections to Trump’s motion for a stay of the gag order by October 25, and that Trump’s team respond by October 28.
Attorneys for Trump appealed the gag order to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday.
On Friday, they urged Chutkan to freeze the order while the appeal process is conducted.
“No Court in American history has imposed a gag order on a criminal defendant campaigning for public office — least of all, on a major candidate for President of the United States,” Trump’s lawyers argued in their motion.
Trump was fined $5,000 on Friday for violating a gag order in his civil fraud trial in New York. AFP via Getty Images
Under the partial gag order, all parties in the case are prohibited from making statements that “target (1) the Special Counsel prosecuting this case or his staff; (2) defense attorneys or their staff; (3) any staff of this court or other support staff; or (4) any witnesses who could reasonably be expected or the content of their testimony.”
Chutkan noted in court that Trump could still criticize the Justice Department widely and suggest that the case against him was politically motivated.
Trump’s trial in the case is scheduled for March 4, 2024, the day before the Super Tuesday presidential primary contest. His team unsuccessfully tried to move the start date back.
Chutkan’s arrest was issued the same day Trump was fined $5,000 for violating a gag order in his civil fraud trial in New York.
Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the US$250 million civil fraud trial against the former president and the Trump Organization, issued the gag order on October 3 after Trump attacked Engoron’s clerk in a Truth Social post.
The offending post was removed from the social media platform but remained on the Trump campaign site, prompting Engoron to levy the fine.
Engoron warned that future violations could lead to “far more severe sanctions,” including “possibly imprisoning” Trump.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
