Special Prosecutor Jack Smith just filed a gag order in an attempt to keep former President Trump quiet about certain witnesses in the upcoming trial, an idea to which Trump responded with vigor and vinegar, unloading on the idea in a speech and post on Truth Social.
As background, Special Prosecutor Smith argued in the filing that the former president needs to be kept quiet about the issue so that public faith in the judicial system isn’t overly eroded and potential witnesses aren’t intimidated into silence by Trump.
In the filing, Smith wrote, “In service of his criminal conspiracies, through false public statements, the defendant sought to erode public faith in the administration of the election and intimidate individuals who refuted his lies.”
“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,” the filing added.
Sounding off on that in a post on Truth Social, the former president wrote, “Biden Prosecutor, Deranged Jack Smith, has asked the Court to limit 45th President, and leading Republican Nominee (by more than 50 points, & beating Dems!) DONALD J. TRUMP’S, PUBLIC STATEMENTS. So, I’m campaigning for President against an incompetent person who has WEAPONIZED the DOJ & FBI to go after his Political Opponent, & I am not allowed to COMMENT? They Leak, Lie, & Sue, & they won’t allow me to SPEAK? How else would I explain that Jack Smith is DERANGED, or Crooked Joe is INCOMPETENT?“
Adding to that in a speech on the matter, former President Trump said, “Deranged Jack Smith, he’s the prosecutor, wants to take away my rights under the First Amendment, wants to take away my right to speak freely and openly. Never forget our enemies want to stop us because we are the only ones who can stop them.”
He also blasted Fox News for its unfavorable treatment of a poll that was very favorable to him, writing, “FoxNews paid a fortune for a BIG Poll, and then when the results came in, they showed backup information, but barely showed the Results – That I was leading DeSanctimonious by almost 50 points, and beating Crooked Joe. Bret Baier put it up immediately, but then it all went “dry.” Could it be possible that Fox talent was instructed not to use their own Poll? Anyway, you’ve all seen the results by now, and that of every other poll as well. DeSanctus is essentially over and done – Others also!”
And, in a post about Texas AG Ken Paxton’s acquittal that was obviously more about Trump’s legal situation than AG Paxton, Trump wrote, “Congratulations to the Great People of Texas, and the State Senate, for rejecting POLITICAL PERSECUTION, and respecting the Integrity of our Elections. We should choose our elected officials by VOTING, not by weaponizing government. That is for Banana Republics, and Third World Countries. Now Attorney General Ken Paxton can get back to work. He’s one of the BEST!”
President Donald Trump: "Deranged Jack Smith, he's the prosecutor, wants to take away my rights under the First Amendment, wants to take away my right to speak freely and openly. Never forget our enemies want to stop us because we are the only ones who can stop them." pic.twitter.com/EkHNHpuyGx
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) September 16, 2023
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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