In a dramatic courtroom showdown, former President Donald Trump faced a scorching gag order from a D.C. federal judge on Monday, which curbs his public statements targeting specific individuals but allows criticism of the Biden administration and the U.S. Department of Justice. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan’s ruling, a fierce clash between the First Amendment and criminal charges, brought a stunning twist to Trump’s legal saga.
Trump’s attorney, John Lauro of Lauro & Singer, vehemently contested the prosecution’s move for a gag order, alleging it was politically motivated censorship. Judge Chutkan countered that Trump’s First Amendment rights aren’t “unfettered” due to his status as a criminal defendant.
“I cannot imagine any other criminal case where the defendant is allowed to call the prosecutor deranged or a thug,” Judge Chutkan declared. “And I will not permit it here.”
Nonetheless, Chutkan acknowledged that some of Trump’s comments, including his jabs at “crooked Joe Biden” and former Vice President Mike Pence, are permissible because they won’t taint the potential jury pool.
