Justice Department Requests Protective Order in Criminal Case Against Former President Donald Trump
The Justice Department has taken action in the criminal case against former President Donald Trump in Washington after he released a post online that appeared to threaten revenge against anyone pursuing legal action against him. Prosecutors have asked U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue a protective order concerning evidence in the case, to limit what information Trump and his legal team can share publicly about the charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith.
Trump had pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss and obstruct the peaceful transition of power. In response to the government’s request, Judge Chutkan gave Trump’s legal team until Monday to respond. However, Trump’s team filed a request for an extension and a hearing on the matter, aiming to slow down the proceedings despite the prosecution’s commitment to a speedy trial. The request for an extension was denied, and Trump must abide by Monday’s deadline.
Prosecutors emphasized the need for a protective order, citing Trump’s history of posting on social media about individuals associated with legal matters against him. They pointed to a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform, where he wrote, “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!” Such posts could have a detrimental impact on witnesses and the fair administration of justice, they argued.
The proposed protective order seeks to prevent Trump and his legal team from disclosing materials provided by the government to anyone outside his legal team, approved witnesses, and their lawyers. Stricter limits would apply to sensitive materials, such as grand jury witness testimony and materials from sealed search warrants.
Trump’s spokesperson defended the post as political speech and a response to “dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs.”
The indictment against Trump alleges his conspiracy to spread falsehoods and concoct schemes to overturn the election results, targeting President Joe Biden and undermining the U.S. government’s function. This is the third criminal case against Trump this year and the first to hold him accountable for his actions during the period between his election loss and the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Apart from this case, Trump also faces charges in Florida federal court related to classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, where prosecutors are seeking another protective order with additional rules for handling classified evidence.
The prosecution aims for a speedy trial in the election case, and the first court hearing before Judge Chutkan is scheduled for August 28. Trump is also set to stand trial in separate cases in March and May.
