In a major blow to the Orange Ass and his big mouth, Judge Tanya Chutkan “said Friday that she plans to issue a protective order over the handling of evidence in the Donald Trump 2020 election interference case, saying it’s needed to protect witnesses or other interference in the trial“
“Mr. Trump, like every American, has a First Amendment right to free speech, but that right is not absolute. In a criminal case such as this one, the defendant’s free speech is subject to the rules,” Chutkan said.
“Without a protective order, a party could release information that could taint the jury pool, intimidate witnesses or others involved in some aspect of the case, or otherwise interfere with the “process of justice,” she added.
“The fact that he is running a political campaign currently has to yield to the administration of justice,” the judge said. “And if that means he can’t say exactly what he wants to say in a political speech, that is just how it’s going to have to be.”
TFG’s attorney, John Lauro, argued that TFG is running for president and “….in a heated moment” someone might say something that prosecutors had put a flag on.” Judge Chutkan raised the prospect that Trump’s public commentary about the evidence in the case could intimidate witnesses, including former VP Mike Pence, whom Lauro singled out in his argument.
Lauro agreed “…that any speech that intimidates a witness would be prohibited, what we are talking about is fair use of information.” He then asked the judge about hypothetical instances where the Orange Ass might publicly remark on something from his personal memory that could also be evidence in the case. The judge ensured Lauro she would protect TFG’s rights and keep politics out of the case but also said, ” …he (Trump) can’t say exactly what he wants to say in a political speech, that is just how it’s going to have to be.”
