Trump blasts Jack Smith’s gag order request in 2020 election interference case

Former President Donald Trump attacked special counsel Jack Smith shortly after a federal judge unsealed the prosecutor’s request for a gag order in the government’s 2020 election interference case against ex-commander in chief. 

“Biden Prosecutor, Deranged Jack Smith, has asked the Court to limit 45th President, and leading Republican Nominee (by more than 50 points, & beating Dems!) DONALD J. TRUMP’S, PUBLIC STATEMENTS,” Trump, 77, wrote on Truth Social Friday.  

“So, I’m campaigning for President against an incompetent person who has WEAPONIZED the DOJ & FBI to go after his Political Opponent, & I am not allowed to COMMENT? They Leak, Lie, & Sue, & they won’t allow me to SPEAK? How else would I explain that Jack Smith is DERANGED, or Crooked Joe is INCOMPETENT?” the former president added. 

Smith accused Trump of spreading “knowingly false accusations of misconduct” against him and making “baseless claims” about US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is handling proceedings, in an attempt to influence potential jurors and witnesses in the case. 

“Since the grand jury returned an indictment in this case, the defendant has repeatedly and widely disseminated public statements attacking the citizens of the District of Columbia, the Court, prosecutors, and prospective witnesses,” Smith wrote. “Through his statements, the defendant threatens to undermine the integrity of these proceedings and prejudice the jury pool.” 

The 19-page gag-order request includes numerous Truth Social posts made by Trump since his four-count indictment in August on charges of conspiracy to defraud the US government and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. 

Smith cites posts in which Trump refers to Chutkan as “a fraud dressed up as a judge in Washington, D.C. who is a radical Obama hack” and a “biased, Trump-hating judge.”

The special counsel also referenced a post where Trump bemoans that he cannot get a fair trial in Washington, DC, because it is “filthy and crime ridden” and “over 95% anti-Trump.”

“Since the indictment in this case, the defendant has spread disparaging and inflammatory public posts on Truth Social on a near-daily basis,” Smith argues. 

The former president took more shots at Smith during remarks Friday night at the Concerned Women for America Summit in Washington. 

“Did you see today that deranged Jack Smith – he’s the prosecutor, he’s a deranged person – wants to take away my rights under the First Amendment? Wants to take away my right of speaking freely and openly. ” Trump said. “Never forget our enemies want to stop us because we are the only ones that can stop them. They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom.” 

“In a true sense I’m being indicted for you. Thanks a lot everybody,” the former president told the crowd.