The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has partially overturned a gag order imposed in the high-profile case against former President Donald J. Trump. The ruling represents a significant setback for Special Counsel Jack Smith and a major victory for supporters of the former President.
The case, which has garnered national attention, centers around charges against Trump for allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election and obstructing its certification.
Following his indictment, Trump was known to have made several public statements on social media, targeting potential witnesses, the judge, and the Special Counsel’s team. This led to the district court issuing a restraining order to limit public statements that could potentially influence the proceedings.
However, in a decisive move, the Appeals Court has found that the district court’s order was overly broad, infringing upon protected speech more than necessary.
“We agree with the district court that some aspects of Mr. Trump’s public statements pose a significant and imminent threat to the fair and orderly adjudication of the ongoing criminal proceeding, warranting a speech constraining protective order,” the court ruled.
While the court agreed that some of Trump’s statements posed a significant threat to the