Trump furious as federal judge reinstates gag order: ‘Unacceptable!’
Trump Reacts Strongly to Gag Order in Federal Election Interference Trial
Former President Donald Trump did not let the reimposition of a gag order in his federal election interference trial stop him from speaking his mind.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Sunday issued her decision that a gag order against Trump in his federal election interference trial would not be lifted.
“The Corrupt Biden Administration just took away my First Amendment Right To Free Speech. NOT CONSTITUTIONAL! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” the leading GOP contender in the 2024 presidential race said in a Sunday post on his Truth Social platform.
“I have just learned that the very Biased, Trump Hating Judge in D.C., who should have RECUSED herself due to her blatant and open loathing of your favorite President, ME, has reimposed a GAG ORDER which will put me at a disadvantage against my prosecutorial and political opponents,” he said in a follow-up post.
“This order, according to many legal scholars, is unthinkable!” Trump said. “It illegally and unconstitutionally takes away my First Amendment Right of Free Speech, in the middle of my campaign for President, where I am leading against BOTH Parties in the Polls.
“Few can believe this is happening, but I will appeal. How can they tell the leading candidate that he, and only he, is seriously restricted from campaigning in a free and open manner? It will not stand!”
Chutkan imposed the gag order this month after special prosecutor Jack Smith called for it. In her ruling Sunday, she said the order will remain in effect while Trump’s legal team appeals it.
The order bans Trump from “making any public statements, or directing others to make any public statements, that target (1) the Special Counsel prosecuting this case or his staff; (2) defense counsel or their staff; (3) any of this court’s staff or other supporting personnel; or (4) any reasonably foreseeable witness or the substance of their testimony.”
In the ruling Sunday, the judge said Trump’s claim that his supporters have a right to hear what he says “does not alter the fundamental principle that First Amendment rights, whether those of the speaker or the listener, may be curtailed to preclude statements that pose sufficiently grave threats to the integrity of judicial proceedings.”
Chutkan — who was appointed to the federal bench in D.C. by former President Barack Obama — also said the ban could prevent witness intimidation. “The evidence is in the record; Defendant simply fails to acknowledge it,” she wrote.
In response to Trump’s claims that the order was not necessary, the judge quoted her prior order that read, “Defendant’s statements pose sufficiently grave threats to the integrity of these proceedings that cannot be addressed by alternative means, and it has tailored its order to meet the force of those threats.”
“Defendant has not made a strong showing that he is likely to succeed on the merits,” she wrote. “As the court has explained, the First Amendment rights of participants in criminal proceedings must yield, when necessary, to the orderly administration of justice—a principle reflected in Supreme Court precedent, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Local Criminal Rules.”
The ruling included examples of what it would allow and what Chutkan said was over the line.
She said a Truth Social post by Trump on Oct. 20 would not be banned. It read, “Does anyone notice that the Election Rigging Biden Administration never goes after the Riggers, but only after those that want to catch and expose the Rigging dogs. Massive information and 100% evidence will be made available during the Corrupt Trials started by our Political Opponent. We will never let 2020 happen again. Look at the result, OUR COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED. MAGA!!!”
Then there was a Tuesday post on Truth Social.
“I don’t think Mark Meadows would lie about the Rigged and Stollen 2020 Presidential Election merely for getting IMMUNITY against Prosecution (PERSECUTION!) by Deranged Prosecutor, Jack Smith,” Trump posted. “BUT, when you really think about it, after being hounded like a dog for three years, told you’ll be going to jail for the rest of your life, your money and your family will be forever gone, and we’re not at all interested in exposing those that did the RIGGING — If you say BAD THINGS about that terrible ‘MONSTER,’ DONALD J. TRUMP, we won’t put you in prison, you can keep your family and your wealth, and, perhaps, if you can make up some really horrible ‘STUFF’ a out him, we may very well erect a statue of you in the middle of our decaying and now very violent Capital, Washington, D.C.
“Some people would make that deal, but they are weaklings and cowards, and so bad for the future our Failing Nation. I don’t think that Mark Meadows is one of them, but who really knows? MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
Chutkan explained why that comment would be covered by her gag order.
“The statement singles out a foreseeable witness for purposes of characterizing his potentially unfavorable testimony as a ‘lie’ ‘mad[e] up’ to secure immunity, and it attacks him as a ‘weakling[] and coward[]’ if he provides that unfavorable testimony — an attack that could readily be interpreted as an attempt to influence or prevent the witness’s participation in this case,” she wrote.
“The plain distinctions between this statement and the prior one — apparent to the court and both parties — demonstrate that far from being arbitrary or standardless, the Order’s prohibition on ‘targeting’ statements can be straightforwardly understood and applied,” she wrote.
Chutkan also noted that the prosecution asked the court “to incorporate the Order into Defendant’s conditions of release.”
She decided against the government in that request.
Trump is facing four felony charges in the case related to his challenge of the 2020 presidential election results and the resulting Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol incursion.
An Urgent Note from Our Staff:
The Western Journal has been labeled “dangerous” simply because we have a biblical worldview and speak the truth about what is happening in America.
We refuse to let Big Tech and woke advertisers dictate the content we share with our community. We stand for truth. We stand for freedom. We stand with our readers.
We’re asking you to help us in this fight. We can’t do this without you.
Your donation directly helps fund our editorial team of writers and editors. Your support means we can continue to expose false narratives and defend traditional American values.
Please stand with us by donating today.
Thank you for your support!
The post Trump Goes Nuclear After Federal Judge Reimposes Gag Order: ‘It Will Not Stand!’ appeared first on The Western Journal.
What are the potential implications of the outcome of this case for the future of the American justice system
Ocess.” She also emphasized that the gag order is necessary to ensure a fair trial and to protect the integrity of the judicial process.
Trump’s reaction to the reimposition of the gag order was met with strong criticism from his supporters. Many argue that his First Amendment rights are being violated, while others believe that it is necessary to prevent interference in the proceedings.
This is not the first time Trump has been subject to a gag order. In previous cases, he has been prohibited from making public statements that could potentially influence the outcome of the trial. However, this time the restrictions are even more stringent, as he is not only prohibited from targeting the special counsel and defense counsel, but also the court staff and potential witnesses.
Critics argue that these restrictions are unnecessary and infringe on Trump’s right to free speech. They argue that Trump should be allowed to express his opinions and defend himself against the charges brought against him. However, Judge Chutkan maintains that the restrictions are necessary to ensure a fair trial and to protect the impartiality of the jury.
Trump’s decision to appeal the gag order indicates that he intends to fight back against what he perceives as an infringement on his rights. Whether his appeal will be successful remains to be seen, but it is clear that this issue will continue to be a major point of contention in the ongoing trial.
Regardless of the outcome of the gag order appeal, this development highlights the highly politicized nature of the trial and the intense scrutiny it is under. With Trump seeking re-election in 2024, every decision made in the trial will be carefully analyzed and scrutinized by both his supporters and his opponents.
As the trial continues, it is likely that tensions will only continue to rise. The outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications, not only for Trump’s political future but also for the future of the American justice system. It is a test of the balance between the right to free speech and the need to ensure a fair and impartial trial.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...