Judge Issues Narrow Gag Order On Trump (UPDATED)

 

 

Judge Chutkan yanks the chain on the Malignant Loser:

A federal judge on Monday issued a gag order on former President Donald Trump, limiting what he can say about special counsel Jack Smith’s federal prosecution into his alleged attempt to subvert in the 2020 presidential election.

The order restricts Trump’s ability to publicly target court personnel, potential witnesses, or the special counsel and his staff. The order did not impose restrictions on disparaging comments about Washington, DC, – where the jury will take place – or certain comments about the Justice Department at large, both of which the government requested.

“This is not about whether I like the language Mr. Trump uses,” Judge Tanya Chutkan said. “This is about language that presents a danger to the administration of justice.”

“His presidential candidacy does not give him carte blanche to vilify public servants who are simply doing their jobs,” the judge added. [snip]

Chutkan, often the target of Trump’s attacks, warned the former president that comments he or his attorneys make could threaten the case.

“Mr. Trump is a criminal defendant. He is facing four felony charges. He is under the supervision of the criminal justice system and he must follow his conditions of release,” Chutkan said Monday during the hearing.

“He does not have the right to say and do exactly what he pleases. Do you agree with that?” she asked Trump attorney John Lauro, who responded: “100%.”...

Chutkan wasn't through with the Malignant Loser's history of making threats:

The judge said that Trump’s “troubling” posts may encourage harm against Smith and his team and questioned Trump’s attorneys as to why he should not be restricted from publicly attacking prosecutors during his case.

Chutkan specifically pointed to a Truth Social post in which the former president referred to Smith as a “thug,” asking Lauro: “In what kind of case do you think it would be appropriate for a criminal defendant to call the prosecutor a thug and stay on the streets?”

“‘Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest’ comes to mind,” Chutkan said. 

It's unclear from the reporting so far what, if any, sanctions would come into play should the Malignant Loser violate the gag order.  Count on the Malignant Loser to continue to push the envelope in the meantime and, of course, to appeal the ruling.

UPDATE:  As Digby notes, he couldn't control himself for even 24 hours.

(Image:  Chet Strange/ Getty Images)