The Department of Justice implored U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue a protective order curtailing Donald Trump’s ability to share information about his indictment online. Chutkan is presiding over the trial of Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on four charges related to his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election,
“If the defendant were to begin issuing public posts using details — or, for example, grand jury transcripts — obtained in discovery here, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case,” special counsel Jack Smith wrote in his court filing on Friday.
The DOJ request comes on the heels of the former president posting on his social-media platform, Truth Social, on Friday: “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!”
On Tuesday, Trump was indicted by Smith on four counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
“Despite having lost, the Defendant was determined to remain in power. So for more than two months following election day on November 3, 2020, the Defendant spread lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won. These claims were false, and the Defendant knew that they were false,” one section of the 45-page indictment reads.
“The attack on our nation’s capitol on January 6, 2021, was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy,” Smith said during a news conference following the announcement. “As described in the indictment, it was fueled by lies.”
“My office will seek a speedy trial so our evidence can be tested in court and judged by a jury of citizens.”
The former president dismissed the charges and took a shot at the special counsel’s integrity.“Deranged Jack Smith, in order to interfere with the Presidential Election of 2024, will be putting out yet another Fake Indictment of your favorite President, me, at 5:00 P.M,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Why didn’t they do this 2.5 years ago? Why did they wait so long? Because they wanted to put it right in the middle of my campaign. Prosecutorial Misconduct!” Trump added.
The former president now faces three criminal indictments. In late March, Trump was indicted in Manhattan on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush-money payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels. In mid June, he pleaded not guilty in a Miami federal court to 37 felony counts in another criminal case centering on his alleged mishandling of classified documents.