Court halts gag order on Trump in election case.
Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Lifts Gag Order Against Former President Trump
A federal appeals court has granted a temporary freeze on the gag order imposed on former President Donald Trump. Trump’s legal team filed an emergency motion to lift the order while his appeal is being considered by the court.
Appeals Court Puts Gag Order on Hold
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an order on Nov. 3, temporarily staying the gag order imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan. The court stated that the stay is not a ruling on the merits of the motion, but rather to allow sufficient time for consideration.
The gag order saga began when special counsel Jack Smith requested the order, which was granted by Judge Chutkan on Oct. 17. President Trump has been vocal about Smith and others involved in the election interference case against him. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.
‘Central to the American Fabric’
The gag order prohibited President Trump from making any public statements or directing others to do so, targeting the prosecution and defense teams, court staff, potential witnesses, and their testimony in the case.
President Trump initially sought relief from the gag order from Judge Chutkan herself. However, she later reinstated the order on Oct. 30. In response, Trump’s lawyers filed an emergency motion to lift the order, arguing that it violates his First Amendment rights and those of millions of Americans who listen to him.
President Trump’s attorneys emphasized his influential voice in American politics and argued that the gag order reflects bias and animosity towards him. The appeals court has sided with Trump, temporarily lifting the order to consider the emergency motion and expedite proceedings.
The court has set deadlines for briefs and responses, with oral arguments scheduled for later this month. It’s worth noting that this is not the only gag order imposed on the former president; he also faces one in a separate civil case in New York.
Catherine Yang and Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.
What restrictions did the gag order impose on President Trump and his legal team?
class=”text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]”>11/3/2023
