Former President Donald Trump has been hit with a partial gag order by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, preventing him from making statements targeting Special Counsel Jack Smith, his staff, witnesses, and court personnel. The decision was made during a court hearing on Monday and comes as Smith pursues charges against the former president related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
While Chutkan acknowledged that Trump has the right to criticize the Justice Department in general terms and express his view that the case against him is politically motivated, she emphasized that he cannot post attacks against prosecutors or court staff. The judge warned that sanctions may be imposed if Trump violates the partial gag order.
In response, a spokesperson for Trump called the decision an “absolute abomination” and accused President Joe Biden of muzzling his political opponent. The spokesperson vowed that Trump will continue to fight for the Constitution and the rights of the American people.
This development follows a similar situation in the New York Trump Organization trial, where Judge Arthur Engoron imposed a partial gag order to prevent all parties from engaging in verbal attacks against court staff. Trump had previously criticized a member of the judge’s office on social media. The gag order, issued earlier this month, applies to both the defense and New York Attorney General Letitia James’ team.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all four federal charges stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into 2020 election interference and the Capitol riot. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
While Trump was not required to appear in court on Monday and instead campaigned in Iowa, the implications of the partial gag order add another layer of complexity to his legal challenges. As the current front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Trump’s legal battles continue to draw significant attention and scrutiny.
This article was written by Brooke Singman, a digital politics reporter for Fox News. For more updates on the 2024 campaign trail and exclusive interviews, you can reach Singman at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @BrookeSingman.
