Judge Warns Donald Trump: U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan warned Donald Trump Friday not to disturb witnesses. The caution is part of a protective order limiting the former president’s case comments. He’s accused of influencing 2020’s presidential election.
Judge Chutkan vowed to respect the case and protect the witnesses. Trump’s 2024 presidential bid worries some.
During a pre-trial discussion, Judge Chutkan questioned the prosecution’s claim that a broad protective order should encompass all case details. This talk was about balancing witnesses’ honesty and law debates’ openness.
Faster hearings were also discussed. Judge Chutkan intended the trial to begin in early January 2024 during the elections. She advised moving quickly since Trump’s history of harsh words could taint the trial.
Judge Chutkan advised Trump to defend himself in court, not online.
This issue is unique since a former president wants to run again. The political climate and Trump’s history of disparaging prosecutors and witnesses cast doubt on the trial’s fairness.
Chutkan warned special counsel Jack Smith’s team that witnesses could be persuaded. She said she would scrutinize anything Trump said that could terrify, coerce, or disturb witnesses.
Smith requested a greater protection order because Trump appears to be threatening witnesses and could influence public opinion. Trump Truth Social’s “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” post prompted the move. Trump’s lawyers and allies believe the post was for political action groups trying to block him from running in 2024
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Trump’s lawyers say the protective order would violate his free speech and censor him.
Prosecutors and Trump’s lawyers disagreed on trial dates. Smith wanted his trial to begin on January 2, two weeks before the Iowa Caucuses, a crucial Republican presidential nominating event. Trump’s four- to six-week hearing could keep him in court during Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada’s delegate votes.
Trump’s lawyers could request a postponement, as they did in two other criminal cases the following year.
Trump responded on Truth Social on January 2 to the notion that he didn’t like election tampering. He suggested a post-election trial.
In addition to the election case, Trump will be tried in March in New York state court for allegedly bribing women to keep quiet. In May, a Florida federal court will try him for handling private information and slowing the judicial process.
Due to this month’s Atlanta arrest, some are trying to modify President Joe Biden’s 2020 Georgia win. Trump looks awful. Trump’s lawsuits impact the nation’s politics.
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