Special counsel requests "narrow" gag order for Trump in election interference case
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media in Atlanta on Aug. 24. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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.
