A gag order in the federal election interference case against former President has been reinstated, following the decision of the presiding judge to end the temporary pause on the order.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan had granted an administrative stay to Trump’s defense team, effectively suspending the gag order while the defense pursued an appeal.
However, on Sunday, Judge Chutkan signed an opinion lifting her previous stay from October 20th, thereby reinstating the gag order. This order restricts Trump from making any statements about potential witnesses or making disparaging comments about the prosecutors, court staff, or anyone providing support.
The special counsel Jack Smith’s legal team requested the gag order to safeguard the trial’s integrity and ensure that the jury pool remains free from any influence caused by Trump’s remarks. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Trump’s legal team has yet to respond to the request for comment. However, the former president took to his social media platform, Truth Social, and posted a statement:
“The Corrupt Biden Administration just took away my First Amendment Right To Free Speech. NOT CONSTITUTIONAL! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN…”
Trump has repeatedly claimed, without providing any evidence, that these ongoing state and civil cases are orchestrated attempts by President Joe Biden to hinder his potential return to the White House as the probable Republican presidential nominee in the upcoming year. Judge Chutkan has clarified that Trump can freely express this opinion as it falls outside the scope of the gag order.
As stated in Chutkan’s gag order, “testimony cited by the government demonstrates that when Defendant has publicly attacked individuals, including on matters related to this case, those individuals are consequently threatened and harassed.”
Trump’s attorneys have argued that the order is too broad and violates his First Amendment rights, leading to “irreparable injury” to his freedom of speech.
A federal grand jury in Washington has indicted Trump on charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction, and conspiracy against the right to vote and to have one’s vote counted. These charges stem from his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, which he lost to President Biden.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
