Former President Donald Trump is keeping his promise to appeal a partial gag order imposed against him in a federal case alleging he tried to stay in power illegally after losing the 2020 election.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan’s muzzle prevents Trump from attacking prosecutors, court staff or their families — or discussing possible witnesses or testimony.
The 77-year-old’s legal team officially filed a notice of appeal in DC federal court.
Hours after Chutkan announced the gag order from the bench on Monday, Trump blasted the judge during a campaign stop in Iowa, claiming that “his whole life has not liked me” and tearing the order as “unconstitutional.”
The 45th president also crowed that he was “indicted for more than Al Capone,” and said he was “willing to go to jail if that’s what it takes for our country to win.”
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.”
Donald Trump has denounced his mounting legal troubles as election meddling.REUTERS Judge Tanya Chutkan imposed a gag order on the former president, arguing that the move was typical of defendants with his conduct. AP
Chutkan noted in court that Trump could still criticize the Justice Department widely and suggest that the case against him was politically motivated.
“You keep talking about censorship like the defendant has unfettered First Amendment rights. He didn’t,” Chutkan told Trump lawyer John Lauro at one point during Monday’s hearing.
“We are not talking about censorship here,” the judge added. “We are talking about sanctions to ensure there is a fair administration of justice in this case.”
Trump’s lawyers cried foul, pointing out that the order could hurt him on the campaign trail as he fights for the presidency.
Jack Smith is leading two federal criminal cases against Donald Trump.AP
Special Counsel Jack Smith sought the order last month, citing some of the former president’s social media rants against him and key players in the case.
“[This] nothing more than a clear attempt by the Biden Administration to illegally silence his most prominent political opponent, who has now advanced to the polls,” Trump’s legal team said in a filing last month.
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.
Donald Trump appeared in a New York court Oct. 17 for his $250 million civil fraud trial. Gregory P. Mango
The former president pleaded not guilty to all four charges in the 2020 election case on August 3.
He also faces a 34-count indictment outside Manhattan of alleged concealment of secret payments, a 40-count indictment of Smith for allegedly hiding some national security documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort, and 13 counts of alleged election subversion in Georgia.
Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of the cases and denounced them as an effort by Biden to up the ante in the 2024 election and a “witch hunt.”
He is the first current or former US president to be criminally indicted.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
