Topline
A limited gag order against former President Donald Trump in the election interference case was reinstated by the D.C. federal judge overseeing the case on Sunday, barring him from publicly attacking parties involved in the federal case.
Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to guests during a … [+]
Key Facts
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the order through the District of Columbia federal court’s online docket on Sunday evening, denying Trump’s request for a stay on the order.
Chutkan issued the gag order earlier this month, but then temporarily lifted it days later, allowing the former president’s attorneys time to present their argument against it.
Additional details about the order were unavailable, as the court’s online filing database appeared to face an outage.
The narrow gag order restricts what Trump can publicly say about DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith, any potential witness in the case, the court and its staffers.
The order, however, does not stop Trump from criticizing the Biden administration, the Department of Justice, the residents of Washington D.C. and former Vice President Mike Pence.
The order also appeared to place no restrictions on Trump attacking Chutkan herself—something he has frequently done and continued to on Sunday in response to the latest ruling.
Chief Critic
Trump expressed his displeasure with the order on his Truth Social platform, writing: “The Corrupt Biden Administration just took away my First Amendment Right To Free Speech.” And later posted: “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…It illegally and unconstitutionally takes away my First Amendment Right of Free Speech, in the middle of my campaign for President.”
What To Watch For
Trump said he plans to appeal the order adding “It will not stand!” The former president’s lawyers have also indicated they will ask the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to issue stay order.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/10/30/federal-judge-reinstates-trumps-gag-order-in-election-interference-case/