Saying “The defendant should not be permitted to continue to try this case in the court of public opinion rather than in the court of law,” Jack Smith’s Special Counsel’s office argued Trump’s ongoing efforts to threaten and intimidate people necessitate a gag order to protect the integrity of the trial and keep court officers, witnesses and prosecutors safe.
“The need for the proposed order is further evidenced by a review of the defendant’s prejudicial statements in the weeks since the Government initially filed its motion on September 5. Since that date, the defendant has continued to make statements that pose a substantial likelihood of material prejudice to this case and that fall within the narrowly tailored order proposed by the Government.” Smith then goes on to list a number of violence-tinged statements made by Trump, including calling for the execution of retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.