According to The New York Times, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan reinstated a gag order on former President Donald Trump on Sunday during his 2020 election fight.
In the January 6 case, a federal grand jury charged Trump on four counts in August, including conspiracy to defraud the United States. Special counsel Jack Smith of the Department of Justice (DOJ) has investigating Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn election results, including suspected attempts to submit phoney slates of pro-Trump electors from swing states he lost to the Electoral College. Trump, the current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, maintains his innocence, accusing prosecutors of pursuing him for political reasons.
Chutkan, who is in charge of the case, previously imposed a “narrowly tailored” gag order on Trump at the request of prosecutors, who were concerned about Trump’s past remarks. Chutkan then temporarily suspended the gagging order, allowing Trump’s counsel time to demonstrate why the former president’s statements should not be restricted, according to The Associated Press.
Trump was barred from making specific statements about Jack Smith’s team or prospective witnesses, including any comments that directly attacked court workers, potential witnesses, or the special counsel and his staff.
According to The Associated Press, Chutkan’s decision on the gag order was posted to PACER on Sunday night, although the order itself was not immediately available. Newsweek was also unable to access PACER on Sunday night because the system appeared to be down.
Meanwhile, following Chutkan’s decision, Trump stated on his social media network Truth Social on Sunday, “The Corrupt Biden Administration just took away my First Amendment Right To Free Speech.” NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION! “RESTORE AMERICA’S GREATNESS…”
“BREAKING: Judge Tonya Chutkan just lifted the temporary hold she placed on Donald Trump’s gag order, denying Trump of his motion to stay her gag order,” Victor Shi, a Biden supporter, said on X, formerly Twitter. It’s late on a Sunday night, and Judge Chutkan is still at work. This is fantastic news.”
“BREAKING: Chutkan lifts the temporary stay of her “gag” order, so it is now back in effect,” former US attorney Andrew Weissmann said on X. Trump will almost certainly request a stay from the DC appellate court. The US relied on Trump’s ongoing attacks during the brief period when there was a stay in order to argue for the stay to be lifted.”
Former US Attorney Barbara McQuade remarked on X, “Judge Chutkan is on solid legal ground.” She could absolutely suffocate Trump if she so desired. Instead, she has allowed him broad leeway to criticise Biden, the Justice Department, and even her. Trump just cannot target parties and witnesses outside of the courtroom.”
Aside from the 2020 election case, Trump is currently dealing with a slew of other legal concerns. The former president is also facing a $250 million civil fraud trial stemming from a lawsuit filed last year by New York Attorney General Letitia James alleging that Trump and top executives at The Trump Organisation conspired to inflate his net worth on financial statements provided to banks and insurers in order to close deals and secure loans.
Trump was also charged with mishandling confidential papers discovered from his Mar-a-Lago estate. In every case, he has maintained his innocence.
