Warm, breezy this early-evening Friday here in California’s Central Valley — end of another work week in fine fashion.
Except for the gagging sensation of having the T-Rump threaten people places and things with intimidation and cruel bullshit. This afternoon Jack Smith went after the T-Rump’s mouth with the legal request for a ‘narrow‘ gag order to keep the Orange Turd from ruining lives and stirring up shitty shit for those involved with bringing the asshole to justice.
We’ll see how this plays:
NEWS: The gag order request came hours after newly unsealed court filings from the spring showed the same prosecutors warning that Trump's knowledge of. asearch warrant for his Twitter account could "precipitate violence." https://t.co/gDp5TFyY5x
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) September 15, 2023
Details via Politico:
“The defendant’s past conduct, including conduct that has taken place after and as a direct result of the indictment in this case, amply demonstrates the need for this order,” prosecutors wrote, adding that Trump’s past salvos had already resulted in harassment of potential witnesses.
On Friday afternoon, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan unsealed filings revealing the government’s week-old request, arguing that Trump is undermining the fairness of the proceedings through “disparaging and inflammatory attacks” on prosecutors, witnesses and the judge in the case.
Given Trump’s penchant for bombastic public statements and for using his social media accounts to settle political scores, a clash like the one now playing out in front of Chutkan has seemed inevitable, particularly as the number of criminal cases Trump faces has risen to four.
[…]
While any gag order limits a defendant’s First Amendment rights, Trump’s situation is unique as he is mounting a campaign to return to the White House and is intent on using the criminal cases as part of his effort to energize his political base.
But in their new request, prosecutors say Trump’s posts amount to more than a mere breach of decorum because his public vitriol has a history of unleashing harassment by Trump followers. The prosecution specifically cited Trump’s attacks on his former cybersecurity aide Chris Krebs, Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman and former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan as examples of figures who faced threats as a result of being singled out by the former president on social media.
Earlier Friday, a federal appeals court also unsealed records showing that the same team of prosecutors had fought in court to block Twitter from telling Trump about a pending search warrant — worrying that informing him could “precipitate violence” or enable him to attack and intimidate witnesses.
Taken together, the government’s filings over a period of several months present an extraordinary picture of a former president as a uniquely dangerous threat to the courts, the justice system and those who would align against him in his four criminal cases. They say he uses that platform — primarily Truth Social and TV interviews — to spread knowing lies about his critics and the court process in ways that stoke the fury of his followers, some of whom feel compelled to act in his name.
Of course, T-Rump’s danger-level shit is real:
Trump, being Trump, decides to respond to Jack Smith’s motion for gag order in a way that perfectly bolsters their argument. His lawyers can stop writing that response they planned to file. pic.twitter.com/wLs6emRA3O
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) September 15, 2023
He just can’t help his asshole self.
And further on the ‘gag’ request (NPR):
“Since the grand jury returned an indictment in this case, the defendant has repeatedly and widely disseminated public statements attacking the citizens of the District of Columbia, the Court, prosecutors, and prospective witnesses,” prosecutors wrote. “Through his statements, the defendant threatens to undermine the integrity of these proceedings and prejudice the jury pool.”
They said Trump’s efforts to weaken faith in the court system and the administration of justice mirror his attacks on the 2020 election, which he falsely claimed that he had won.
“The defendant is now attempting to do the same thing in this criminal case — to undermine confidence in the criminal justice system and prejudice the jury pool through disparaging and inflammatory attacks on the citizens of this District, the Court, prosecutors, and prospective witnesses,” they wrote.
Among the statements cited by prosecutors in their motion is a a post on his Truth Social platform days after the indictment in which Trump wrote, in all capital letters, “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!” He has also repeatedly alleged on social media that the case against him is “rigged” and that he cannot receive a fair trial. And he has attacked in personal terms the prosecutors bringing the case — calling Smith “deranged” and his team “thugs” — as well as the judge presiding over the case, Tanya Chutkan.
Duh!
In respect in closing out this court action, Pain and ‘Shut Your Mouth,’ and you better follow the court’s orders:
Gagging the gagger, or not, yet here we are once again…