Appeals Court Suggests Gag Order Went Too Far Against Trump

Donald Trump may have finally caught a break from some Democrat judges, albeit a small one.

A federal appeals court panel appears to be ready to take a very “careful scalpel” to the gag order that has been issued against Trump in the case being presided over by Judge Chutkan.

The appeals court, consisting of all Democrat-appointed judges, hinted that the gag order may have gone too far and violated Trump’s First Amendment rights.

Be Careful

There will undoubtedly be a limited gag order kept in place, but the panel seemed ready to reduce the restrictions that have been placed on Trump by Chutkan.

The reason the gag order was issued was to keep Trump in line and stop him from pushing rhetoric online that Chutkan and Special Prosecutor Jack Smith seem to believe will encourage violence against members of the court.

Judge Patricia Millett, an appointee of President Barack Obama, believes the order could become a problem if Trump’s opponents use the case against Trump in political attacks.

Millett stated, “He has to speak ‘Miss Manners’ while everyone else is throwing targets at him?

“It would be really hard in a debate, when everyone else is going at you full bore. Your attorneys would have to have scripted little things you can say.”

Judge Nina Pillard did not believe witnesses such as former Vice President Mike Pence, former Attorney General Bill Barr, or former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mark Milley would be intimidated by Trump, so that argument was tossed out the window.

In what many are seeing as a sign that the court will somewhat lift the order, Millett, stated, “We have to use a careful scalpel here.”

A decision should be issued soon in the case, but based on the comments made by the judges, we are expecting this to fall in Trump’s favor.

Again, the entire order will not be lifted, but it does seem as though there will be some leeway given to Trump, albeit with very specific restrictions from the court.