By ERIC TUCKER (Associated Press)
In the case accusing Donald Trump of plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, federal prosecutors are requesting a court order to limit the former president’s remarks about witnesses, lawyers, and the judge, citing their potential inflammatory and intimidating nature.
The motion filed on Friday by special counsel Jack Smith’s team argues that an order that is “narrow” and “well-defined” would protect the integrity of the case and prevent potential jurors from being prejudiced.
Prosecutors stated, “Since the grand jury indicted the defendant, he has repeatedly made public statements that attack the citizens of the District of Columbia, the court, the prosecutors, and potential witnesses. Through these statements, the defendant threatens to undermine the fairness of the proceedings and bias the jury pool.”
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They further asserted that Trump’s efforts to erode faith in the justice system and the administration of justice echo his unfounded claims about the 2020 election results, where he falsely insisted that he had emerged victorious.
In their motion, prosecutors identified various statements made by Trump, including a post on his Truth Social platform shortly after the indictment, in which he wrote, entirely in capital letters, “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!” He has also repeatedly alleged on social media that the case against him is “rigged” and that he will not receive a fair trial. Additionally, he has launched personal attacks on the prosecutors, referring to Smith as “deranged” and his team as “thugs,” while also targeting the presiding judge, Tanya Chutkan.
Responding to the motion, a spokesperson for Trump accused prosecutors of trying to infringe upon the former president’s First Amendment rights and labeled their actions as “blatant election interference.” The spokesperson stated, “President Trump is undeniably the frontrunner in this race. The American people—the voters—can see through this unconstitutional charade and will ensure President Trump returns to the White House.”
The issue came to light last week when the Justice Department revealed its intention to file a motion concerning Trump’s “daily” public statements, which it feared could prejudice the jury pool. On Friday, Judge Chutkan granted prosecutors permission to publicly file a redacted motion, blacking out the names and identifying information of individuals who claimed to have been harassed due to Trump’s attacks.
Also on Friday, Smith’s team opposed the Trump team’s request for Judge Chutkan to recuse herself from the case. The defense lawyers had cited prior comments from Chutkan that they believed cast doubt on her impartiality, but prosecutors argued that there was no valid justification for her to step aside.
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