The federal judge overseeing the 2020 election subversion case against former US president Donald Trump in Washington imposed a narrow gag order on him on Monday. The judge barred the Republican leader from making statements that targeted prosecutors, possible witnesses, and the judge’s staff. This order from US District Judge Tanya Chutkan marks a milestone in the federal case that accuses Trump of conspiring illegally to overturn his loss in the 2020 US Presidential elections to Joe Biden.
The judge said that Trump is entitled to criticize the Justice Department generally and assert his belief that the case is politically motivated, however, she said that Trump can’t mount a “smear campaign” against prosecutors and court personnel, reported news agency Associated Press.
Judge Chutkan said, "No other criminal defendant would be allowed to do so, and I’m not going to allow it in this case." Trump’s lawyer John Lauro fiercely opposed any gag order whatsoever while saying that it would hinder Trump’s political speech unconstitutionally. He said, “He is allowed to make statements the prosecution doesn’t like. That’s part of living with the First Amendment."
A Trump spokesperson called the judge’s decision “an absolute abomination”, AP reported.
Prosecutor Molly Gaston countered Lauro's statements and said, "What Mr. Lauro is saying is the defendant is above the law and he is not subject to the rules of this court like any other defendant is. All this order would do is prevent him from using the campaign as an opportunity to make materially prejudicial statements about this case."
Chutkan's ruling came after special counsel Jack Smith filed a motion that argued that Trump's inflammatory rhetoric threatened to undermine his trial for election subversion. Trump described Chutkan in public comments and social media posts as a "fraud" and "Trump-hating judge". He termed Smith's office as a "team of thugs," and Washington as a "filthy and crime-ridden" city with a population "over 95% anti-Trump," reported news agency AFP.