UNITED STATES (AP) – The Justice Department on Friday asked a federal judge overseeing the criminal case against former president Donald Trump in Washington, United States (US) to step in after he released a post online that appeared to promise revenge on anyone who goes after him.
Prosecutors asked US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue a protective order in the case a day after Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and block the peaceful transition of power.
The order – which is different from a so-called gag order – would limit what information Trump and his legal team could share publicly about the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.
Such protective orders are common in criminal cases, but prosecutors said it’s particularly important in this case because Trump has posted on social media about witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him.
Prosecutors pointed specifically to a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform from earlier Friday in which Trump wrote, in all capital letters, “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!” Prosecutors said they are ready to hand over a substantial amount of evidence – much of which includes sensitive and confidential information – to Trump’s legal team.
They told the judge that if Trump were to begin posting about grand jury transcripts or other evidence provided by the Justice Department, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case.
Prosecutors’ proposed protective order seeks to prevent Trump and his lawyers from disclosing materials provided by the government to anyone other than people on his legal team, possible witnesses, the witnesses’ lawyers or others approved by the court.
It would put stricter limits on sensitive materials, which would include grand jury witness testimony and materials obtained through sealed search warrants.
A Trump spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement that the former president’s post is the definition of political speech, and was made in response to dishonest special interest groups and super political action communities.
The indictment unsealed this week accuses Trump of brazenly conspiring with allies to spread falsehoods and concoct schemes intended to overturn his election loss to President Joe Biden as his legal challenges floundered in court.
