Prosecutors, Trump Lawyers Joust Over Protective Order

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Facts

  • Federal prosecutors working with special counsel Jack Smith on Monday asked US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to turn down former Pres. Donald Trump’s request for fewer restrictions on what evidence he can make public about his election obstruction case.1
  • Last week, Trump was charged with four felonies related to his alleged attempt to obstruct certification of the 2020 presidential results in favor of Pres. Joe Biden.1
  • Prosecutors requesting the protective order claim they seek to prevent Trump from using information during discovery to intimidate witnesses and cited the former president’s Aug. 4 Truth Social post, which said “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!”2
  • They also said Trump, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, “had previously issued public statements” against individuals during other legal cases he’s involved in.2
  • Trump’s lawyers responded by describing the requested protective order as too broad and restrictive of Trump’s First Amendment rights.3
  • Trump on Monday again posted on Truth Social, this time writing that Chutkan is Smith’s “dream” judge and that the order is intended to restrict his freedom of speech.4

Sources: 1Guardian, 2Al Jazeera, 3ABC News, and 4Independent.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by USA Today. For the sake of the integrity of the judicial system, and the safety of anyone Trump considers an enemy, Chutkan must impose the strictest gag order possible. Trump's social media rants are nothing new, but – as was proven on Jan. 6, 2021 – his followers can turn to violence when instructed, and he must be stopped before someone gets hurt or this case gets tarnished.
  • Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Townhall. The witch hunt against Trump continues. The prosecutors’ charges against Trump violate his First Amendment rights to question the results of the election, and now they want to stifle his ability to speak on his own behalf. With a biased Obama-appointed judge overseeing this case, Trump can’t get a fair shake, and the weaponization of the Justice Department to stop a political opponent will unfortunately continue.

Predictions