U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan had stayed a gag order that was placed against Donald Trump in the January 6 election interference case.
She stayed the order after an appeal was filed by Trump’s attorneys.
Just as I had predicted, after the appeal was heard and the Special Counsel submitted its response, Chutkan reinstituted the order.
Quiet Down
Trump hurt his own case by refusing to dial down his rhetoric on social media against judges, witnesses, and court staff.
I had stated last week that if Trump were to focus solely on the cases, he would be fine, but he insists on making personal attacks, and that is at the heart of these gag orders.
AP reported on the gag order being put back in place, stating, “…Chutkan agreed to reinstate the order after prosecutors cited Trump’s recent social media comments about his former chief of staff they said represented an attempt to influence and intimidate a likely witness in the case.”
Donald Trump responded, “I have just learned that the very Biased, Trump-Hating Judge in D.C., who should have RECUSED herself due to her blatant and open loathing of your favorite President, ME, has reimposed a GAG ORDER which will put me at a disadvantage against my prosecutorial and political opponents.
“This order, according to many legal scholars, is unthinkable! It illegally and unconstitutionally takes away my First Amendment Right of Free Speech, in the middle of my campaign for President, where I am leading against BOTH Parties in the Polls.
“Few can believe this is happening, but I will appeal. How can they tell the leading candidate that he, and only he, is seriously restricted from campaigning in a free and open manner? It will not stand!”
The thing is nobody is stopping Trump from using his social media outlets to campaign. He can even comment on the cases, he just cannot lodge personal attacks against very specific members of the court and witnesses.
For that reason, I don’t think he will win the appeal for having the gag order lifted in either of these cases.
I just don’t understand why his attorneys do not convince him to dial it down just a bit to ensure they don’t lose the actual cases on appeal, which is Trump’s best shot to beat these charges and cases.
