Donald Trump federal trial: Special prosecutor wants to limit what ex-president can comment on

battle Jack Smith believes that Donald Trump's attacks risk “influencing witness statements

Judge Tanya Chutkan, Donald Trump and special prosecutor Jack Smith. — AFP

He wants a gag. The US special prosecutor prosecuting Donald Trump has asked à a judge to limit the freedom of a judge former president's speech before his federal trial for his attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 election.

According to prosecutor Jack Smith, Donald Trump's repeated criticism of the Department of Justice, the residents of Washington and the judge in charge of the case, Tanya Chutkan, could disrupt the smooth running of the justice.

« So, I'm campaigning to be president (…) and I'm not allowed to run for president. à express myself? They are leaking (information, editor's note), lying, suing me, and don't want me to speak? Donald Trump quickly reacted on his Truth Social platform.

The former president's comments “could have a significant impact on the population from which the candidate will be selected” the jury (of the trial) and at the same time influence the statements of the witnesses,” according to the prosecution. Anyone reading or listening to Donald Trump's statements “could reasonably be afraid of being targeted next” by the attacks of the accused,” adds Jack Smith in a court document.

“Team of thugs”

The trial of Donald Trump in this affair must begin on March 4, the day before “Super Tuesday”, one of the most important deadlines in the Republican primaries for which he is the big favorite.

Until then, Jack Smith wants the Republican billionaire to be banned from making any derogatory or intimidating statements to anyone. about anyone cited in the matter or who could be, and to make absolutely no declaration to the contrary. about future witnesses.

Donald Trump also accused judge Tanya Chutkan to “hate him” and qualified the prosecutor's office to be a “team of thugs”. However, according to this same team, these comments have transformed into very real threats, and “it is clear that these threats are provoked by the words, repeated non-stop, of the accused.

In mid-August, a woman had been attacked. arrested in Texas for death threats against Tanya Chutkan, who has yet to answer to the charges. Jack Smith's request to limit Donald Trump's comments before his trial.