AFPTrump at a speech in Iowa earlier this month
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 02:34
Former American President Donald Trump is no longer allowed to publicly comment on prosecutors, potential witnesses and court employees. This has been decided by a federal judge in the criminal case in which Trump has been charged with attempts to influence the outcome of the 2020 election.
The judge, Tanya Chutkan, said Trump can criticize the Justice Department and say that in his view the case is politically motivated. But according to her, the former president should not conduct a targeted “smear campaign” against people around the case.
According to Chutkan, this applies to everyone who has been charged. “And that’s why I’m not going to allow it in this case.”
If Trump does not adhere to the conditions, Chutkan does not rule out sanctions. She did not elaborate on what such a punishment could be.
‘Abomination’
There is a good chance that Trump’s lawyers will appeal the judge’s decision. They may do that. A Trump spokesman called the decision “an absolute abomination.”
Trump himself called the decision “unconstitutional” during a campaign speech in Iowa. “I will be the only politician who runs a campaign with a gag order, where I am not allowed to criticize people.”
Trump previously called Chutkan a “Trump-hating judge” and the prosecutors “a bunch of crooks.”
Previous gag order
At the beginning of this month, Trump was also given a gag order in the civil fraud case against him in New York.
Trump had then used social media to lash out at the chief judicial clerk, saying attacks on his staff are “unacceptable and inappropriate” and “will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”
Trump had posted on social media a photo of the clerk, whom he identified by name, in which she poses with Senate Majority Leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer. Trump called the clerk “Schumer’s girlfriend” and added, “How disgraceful! This lawsuit must be stopped immediately!” Trump’s post was later deleted.
There are still three criminal cases pending against Trump; one revolves around election fraud in the state of Georgia, one about withholding classified documents after his departure from the White House in 2021 and one about paying hush money to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
2023-10-17 00:34:10
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