WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 The federal judge overseeing the 2020 election interference case against Donald Trump in Washington imposed a narrow gag order on him on Monday, barring the Republican former president from making statements targeting prosecutors, possible witnesses and court staff.
The order from marks a milestone moment in the federal case that accuses Trump of illegally conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. It's the most serious restriction a court has placed on Trump's incendiary rhetoric, which has become a centerpiece of his grievance-filled campaign to return to the White House while fighting criminal charges in .
The order may end a line of attack that Trump has made central to his campaign for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. But it may be only the beginning of an unprecedented fight over who is also campaigning for America鈥檚 highest public office.
In a social media post shortly after the hearing in Washington's federal court, Trump vowed to appeal. During a campaign appearance in Iowa later Monday, Trump decried the order as unconstitutional, and claimed it would only help him in the polls.
Speaking from the bench, Chutkan said Trump is entitled to criticize the Justice Department generally and assert his belief that the case is politically motivated but can鈥檛 mount a 鈥渟mear campaign鈥 against prosecutors and court personnel.
鈥淣o other criminal defendant would be allowed to do so, and I鈥檓 not going to allow it in this case," Chutkan said.
Chutkan, who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama, said she would impose 鈥渟anctions as may be necessary鈥 if the gag order is violated, but she wasn't more specific. Judges can threaten gag order violators with fines or jail time, but jailing a presidential candidate could prompt serious political blowback and pose logistical hurdles.
While ending the stream of may make the case easier to manage, the court order is likely to also fuel Trump鈥檚 claims of political persecution. Trump's campaign quickly seized on the gag order in a fundraising appeal email Monday afternoon, falsely claiming that it was requested by Biden.
At rallies and in social media posts, Trump has repeatedly sought to vilify Smith and other prosecutors, casting himself as the victim of a politicized justice system working to deny him another term. His disparaging remarks have continued since prosecutors requested the gag order last month, including in a media post on Sunday in which he called Smith 鈥渄eranged鈥 and called Chutkan 鈥渉ighly partisan."
Gag orders are not unheard of in high-profile cases, but there is little legal precedent for court orders limiting the speech of defendants running for public office and none addressing presidential candidates. Legal experts have said the issue may end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump鈥檚 lawyer John Lauro fiercely opposed any gag order, saying Trump is entitled to criticize prosecutors and 鈥渟peak truth to oppression.鈥
鈥淗e is allowed to make statements the prosecution doesn鈥檛 like. That鈥檚 part of living with the First Amendment,鈥 said Lauro, who declined to comment on the ruling after the hearing.
The ruling came as Trump was onboard his plane traveling to early-voting Iowa for . It is unclear whether Trump will abide by the new restrictions, and for how long. In a statement, a Trump spokesperson called the judge's decision 鈥渁n absolute abomination.鈥
Smith鈥檚 team argued that Trump knows that his incendiary remarks 鈥 calling the justice system 鈥渞igged,鈥 Chutkan a 鈥淭rump-hating judge,鈥 and prosecutors a 鈥渢eam of thugs鈥 鈥 could inspire his supporters to threaten or harass his targets. Prosecutors said it is part of Trump鈥檚 effort to erode the public鈥檚 faith in the judicial system just like they say he sought to undermine confidence in the 2020 election by spreading after he lost to Biden.
"What Mr. Lauro is saying is the defendant is above the law and he is not subject to the rules of this court like any other defendant is,鈥 prosecutor Molly Gaston told the judge. 鈥淎ll this order would do is prevent him from using the campaign as an opportunity to make materially prejudicial statements about this case.鈥
The judge repeatedly pushed back against claims from the defense that prosecutors were seeking to censor the Trump's political speech. Chutkan said Trump 鈥渄oes not have a right to say and do exactly as he pleases.鈥
鈥淵ou keep talking about censorship like the defendant has unfettered First Amendment rights. He doesn鈥檛,鈥 Chutkan told Lauro. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not talking about censorship here. We鈥檙e talking restrictions to ensure there is a fair administration of justice on this case."
She also cut off Trump's lawyer when he suggested the case was politically motivated, telling him: "Obviously, you have an audience other than me in mind.鈥 And she rejected a defense bid to delay the trial, , until after the 2024 election, saying 鈥渢his trial will not yield to the election cycle.鈥
Lauro said Trump had not violated his pretrial conditions, and those were enough to keep him in check for the future. He told the judge, 鈥淲hat you have put in place is working.鈥 Chutkan burst out laughing.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to have to take issue with that,鈥 the judge said.
Reading aloud a slew of statements from Trump, Chutkan repeatedly raised concerns that his remarks could inspire violence.
鈥淚f you call certain people thugs enough times doesn鈥檛 that suggest, Mr. Lauro, that someone should get them off the streets?鈥 she asked Trump's lawyer.
Prosecutors said Trump鈥檚 litany of attacks was already having consequences. They noted that a top prosecutor on Smith鈥檚 team received intimidating communications after being singled out by Trump, and a Texas woman with making racist death threats against Chutkan, who is of , in a phone message left at her chambers.
It's the second gag order imposed on Trump in the last month. The judge overseeing Trump鈥檚 civil fraud trial in New York earlier this month issued prohibiting personal attacks against court personnel following a social media post from Trump that maligned the judge鈥檚 principal clerk.
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Richer reported from Boston. Associated Press reporters Eric Tucker in Washington and Jill Colvin in New York contributed.
