Special counsel Jack Smith has once again requested a federal judge overseeing the classified documents case against Donald Trump to impose a gag order against the former president. The request aims to prevent Trump from making statements about the law enforcement officers who searched his Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022.
The focus of the gag order request is on false or misleading statements made by Trump regarding the search of Mar-a-Lago, including claims that his life was in danger due to a policy on the use of deadly force during the search.
Prosecutors argue that Trump's recent comments have put law enforcement officers involved in the case at risk and have jeopardized the integrity of the proceedings. Trump faces charges of taking classified national defense documents from the White House after leaving office and resisting government attempts to retrieve the materials. He has pleaded not guilty.
This latest request for a gag order follows a previous attempt by Smith, which was rejected by Judge Aileen Cannon for procedural reasons. The current request mirrors the original one, with prosecutors now stating that they have discussed the motion with Trump's defense attorneys but failed to reach a resolution.
Trump has informed his supporters about potential danger during the search due to the use-of-force policy, which is standard for FBI searches and limits agents' use of force. Prosecutors claim that Trump's false claims have created a misleading impression about federal law enforcement agents and exposed them to risks of threats, violence, and harassment.
Defense attorneys for Trump argue that the gag order violates the First Amendment rights of the former president and the American people. They contend that such an order would allow Trump's political opponents to regulate his campaign communications to voters nationwide.
