Last Updated on November 1, 2023
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan reinstated a gag order against President Trump that doesn’t allow Trump to speak about court staff or witnesses in his upcoming J6 trial in D.C. Chutkan reinstated the order after she concluded Trump would not win an appeal to have the order removed. The Biden DOJ could potentially jail Trump if he speaks about Jack Smith. Meanwhile, Smith has no restrictions to speak about Trump.
Chutkan attacked the 1st Amendment in her ruling reinstating the garg order, writing, ” As the court has explained, the First Amendment rights of participants in criminal proceedings must yield, when necessary, to the orderly administration of justice—a principle reflected in Supreme Court precedent, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Local Criminal Rules.”
Trump responded to the order, writing on TruthSocial, “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!”
Trump’s appeal of the gag order will likely go to the United States Supreme Court. However, this process will take months. This allows the Biden White House to craft their narrative without Trump being able to respond.
This latest development will add more pressure on the House GOP to defund Jack Smith ahead of the November 17th C.R. Deadline. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz used McCarthy’s funding of Jack Smith to justify having McCarthy removed as House Speaker. Polling shows a large percentage of Americans supported this move.
Stay with NationalFile for continuing coverage of Trump’s D.C. trial.