Prosecutors from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office are seeking a protective order after Donald Trump posted an apparent threat on Truth Social on Friday. Citing the former president’s all-caps declaration, “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” prosecutors said his posts could have a “harmful chilling effect” on witnesses in the case against him if he were to start publicly posting information obtained in discovery. The DOJ is therefore asking a judge for a protective order blocking the “improper dissemination or use of discovery materials.” Prosecutors noted in their filing that the order is especially important since “the defendant has previously issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys and others associated with legal matters pending against him.”

  • ulkesh@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    39
    ·
    1 year ago

    And if it were literally anyone else, they would have been put in prison while awaiting trial due to their clear and present danger of inciting violence and retaliation.

    I do not understand why everyone walks on eggshells around this asshole.

    • Intelligence_Gap@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      At the very least with this approach when he’s found guilty there will be no argument for impropriety or unfair treatment that could be used to get him out.

    • Snipe_AT@lemmy.atay.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      We have to be especially careful with people with significant resources. Any small mistakes caused by moving quickly can be leveraged for less consequences do to technicalities. In these cases, being reactionary is a detriment.