Topline
Former President Donald Trump lashed out against the Biden Administration and prosecutors early Tuesday—accusing them of trying to limit his free speech rights—as his attorneys opposed the DOJ’s request for a protective order, which seeks to limit what the former president can publicly say about evidence in the DOJ’s criminal election interference case.
Former President Donald Trump speaks as the keynote speaker at the 56th Annual Silver Elephant … [+] Dinner hosted by the South Carolina Republican Party in Columbia, South Carolina.
Key Facts
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump attacked President Joe Biden and accused him of pushing special counsel Jack Smith—calling him a “Thug Prosecutor” and “Deranged”—to seek the protective order limiting Trump’s ability to publicly disclose evidence.
Trump claimed the order intends to take away his “SPEECH” rights and added that he will be the “only ‘Politician’ in American history not allowed to SPEAK.”
In a D.C. federal court filing on Monday evening, Trump’s lawyers opposed the DOJ’s request for a protective order, saying it was “contrary to established law and President Trump’s First Amendment rights.”
Trump’s attorneys instead sought to limit the protective order that would “shield only genuinely sensitive materials from public view.”
The filing also reiterated Trump’s argument about political harm, saying it targets the Biden administration’s “primary political opponent, during an election season in which the administration, prominent party members, and media allies have campaigned on the indictment.”
In its filing last week, the DOJ said it is preparing to hand over “substantial” evidence to Trump’s legal team including “sensitive and confidential information” which it wants to prevent the former president from disclosing.
The DOJ noted that Trump’s sharing of such information on social media and other public forums could have a “harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case.”
Key Background
Last week, Trump was indicted on four federal charges following a federal investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy against rights of citizens, obstructing an official proceeding and conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding. On Friday, the DOJ filed a request for the protective order seeking to limit what Trump can publicly say about the case. The filing was made after Trump appeared to threaten retaliation against people who go after him in a Truth Social post saying: “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” In its filing, the DOJ said Trump is seeking to “try this case in the media rather than in the courtroom.”
Tangent
Earlier on Monday, Trump lashed out at Biden and the growing number of legal cases against him, saying: “HOW CAN MY CORRUPT POLITICAL OPPONENT PUT ME ON TRIAL(S) DURING A CAMPAIGN THAT I AM WINNING (BY A LOT!), BUT FORCING ME TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY AWAY FROM THE “CAMPAIGN TRAIL” IN ORDER TO FIGHT BOGUS ACCUSATIONS & CHARGES?” The comment comes amid reports that Trump’s campaign was burning through tons of cash to cover the former president’s legal fees. According to official disclosures, Trump’s political operation has spent $42.8 million so far this year—$25 million of which was spent on legal fees.
Further Reading
Trump Wants To Move Jan. 6 Trial To West Virginia—Here’s Why That’s Unlikely (Forbes)
