Special Counsel Jack Smith requested a “narrowly tailored” gag order on Friday for former President Trump to limit his public statements in regard to the 2020 election interference case.
The big picture: Smith’s office said in a filing that Trump has tried “to undermine confidence in the criminal justice system and prejudice the jury pool” through “disparaging and inflammatory attacks” on those involved in the case.
His office asked a federal judge to restrict Trump from making “certain extrajudicial public statements” on the case, in which Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Driving the news: Smith’s office referenced multiple Truth Social posts from Trump in the filing.
Per the filing, the GOP presidential frontrunner in August, following his arraignment in the D.C. case, posted: “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!”
Trump posted on Truth Social Friday that President Biden “has weaponized the DOJ & FBI” to go after him.
Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios’ request for comment.
Flashback: District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who is overseeing the election interference case, warned Trump in August against making any “inflammatory statements” about the case.
Despite Chutkan’s warnings, Trump went on to criticize the federal judge multiple times on Truth Social. His attorneys asked her to recuse herself earlier this week over statements she made.
Chutkan’s security has been tightened after receiving death threats.
“To the extent that the defendant’s public posts reach the general public, they also reach the jury pool for this trial,” the filing noted.
What’s next: Chutkan set Trump’s trial for March 4, 2024.
Zoom out: Trump is a defendant in at least seven known cases, including four criminal cases and three civil cases. He’s been indicted four times and faces 91 state and federal charges.
Trump was most recently indicted in Georgia for his alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election results.
Meanwhile, the 2024 presidential candidate continues to dominate the polls.