US prosecutors have raised concerns about a social media post from former President Donald Trump, suggesting that it could potentially intimidate witnesses by improperly disclosing confidential evidence. The justice department asked a federal judge overseeing Trump’s criminal case to intervene after he released a post on his Truth Social site promising revenge on anyone who goes after him. This comes after Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of orchestrating a criminal conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.
In a court filing, the office of special counsel Jack Smith stated that Trump’s post raised concerns that he may publicly reveal secret material obtained from prosecutors, such as grand jury transcripts. Prosecutors argued that this could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in the case. They noted that Trump has a history of attacking judges, attorneys, and witnesses in other cases against him.
To address these concerns, prosecutors requested that US district judge Tanya Chutkan issue a protective order prohibiting Trump and his lawyers from sharing any discovery materials with unauthorized individuals. Protective orders are common in cases involving confidential documents, but in this case, it was deemed particularly important due to Trump’s social media statements.
During his arraignment, Trump swore not to intimidate witnesses or communicate with them without legal counsel present. However, a spokesperson for Trump defended his social media post, claiming that it was political speech in response to certain groups and organizations.
It is worth noting that Trump is facing multiple criminal cases. In addition to the current case, he has pleaded not guilty to charges in Miami for allegedly retaining classified documents after leaving office and obstructing justice. He also faces state charges in Manhattan for allegedly falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to a porn star. Furthermore, Atlanta prosecutors in Georgia are investigating his efforts to overturn the election results there, potentially leading to a fourth indictment. Trump has consistently portrayed these investigations as part of a political witch-hunt aimed at undermining his 2024 campaign.
The outcome of the justice department’s request for a protective order and the ongoing criminal cases against Trump will continue to unfold as the legal proceedings progress.
Original Story at www.theguardian.com – 2023-08-05 06:06:00
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