Special counsel requests "narrow" gag order for Trump in election interference case

Special Counsel Jack Smith requested a "narrowly tailored" gag order on Friday for former President Trump to limit his public statements in regard to the 2020 election interference case.

The big picture: Smith's office said in a filing that Trump has tried "to undermine confidence in the criminal justice system and prejudice the jury pool" through "disparaging and inflammatory attacks" on those involved in the case.

• His office asked a federal judge to restrict Trump from making "certain extrajudicial public statements" on the case, in which Trump has pleaded not guilty.

Driving the news: Smith's office referenced multiple Truth Social posts from Trump in the filing.

• Per the filing, the GOP presidential frontrunner in August, following his arraignment in the D.C. case, posted: "If you go after me, I'm coming after you!"
• Trump posted on Truth Social Friday that President Biden "has weaponized the DOJ & FBI" to go after him.
• Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Flashback: District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who is overseeing the election interference case, warned Trump in August against making any "inflammatory statements" about the case.

• Despite Chutkan's warnings, Trump went on to criticize the federal judge multiple times on Truth Social. His attorneys asked her to recuse herself earlier this week over statements she made.
• Chutkan's security has been tightened after receiving death threats.

• "To the extent that the defendant's public posts reach the general public, they also reach the jury pool for this trial," the filing noted.

What's next: Chutkan set Trump's trial for March 4, 2024.

Zoom out: Trump is a defendant in at least seven known cases, including four criminal cases and three civil cases. He's been indicted four times and faces 91 state and federal charges.

• Trump was most recently indicted in Georgia for his alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election results.
• Meanwhile, the 2024 presidential candidate continues to dominate the polls.

Go deeper:

• Iowa poll: Trump lead grew post-indictment
• Trump's 2024 collision: Court dates disrupt his campaign calendar

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Trump has been charged in, and is not currently on trial in, at least seven cases.