Hearing under way for judge considering gag order on Trump in 2020 election interference case – US politics live | US politics
Judges opens hearing to consider gag order on Trump in election subversion case
Hugo Lowell
Judge Tanya Chutkan has entered the courtroom in Washington DC to hear arguments from prosecutors and defense attorneys over whether to impose a gag order on Donald Trump in his trial on charges related to trying to overturn the 2020 election.
Follow along as we cover it here live.
Key events
Hugo Lowell
If judge Tanya Chutkan places a gag order on Donald Trump, the question would then become, what happens if he violates it?
Chutkan asked special counsel prosecutor Molly Gaston what the enforcement mechanism should be if she imposes a gag order, noting the “order [is] pointless if [there is] no mechanism to enforce”. Penalties for violating it could include admonishing Trump, imposing financial penalties, moving his court date or modifying his conditions of release.
Chutkan asked Trump lawyer John Lauro the same question, who replied that such an order would be “actually impossible”. He argued that they were in the midst of a presidential campaign, and questioned how statements Trump made in a hypothetical debate with someone like his former vice-president turned rival Mike Pence would be handled under the order.
Hugo Lowell
Donald Trump’s lawyer John Lauro argued the former president abided by his conditions of release despite his inflammatory statements about potential witnesses and prosecutors.
Judge Tanya Chutkan replied, “I’m going to take issue with that” and added, “This trial will not yield to the election cycle”.
Lauro, meanwhile, is arguing that Trump is entitled to say he’s being treated unfairly.
Hugo Lowell
Judge Tanya Chutkan kicked off the hearing by turning down prosecutors’ request for restrictions on the surveys Donald Trump’s attorneys plan to send to potential jurors.
The former president’s team has been concerned about the jury pool in Washington DC, which is overwhelmingly Democratic, and wants to use the surveys to inquire about their views on Trump and the January 6 insurrection. Special counsel Jack Smith’s team had asked Chutkan to require Trump’s lawyers to submit the surveys first before sending them out – arguing they could taint the jury pool – but the judge declined to do so.
Hugo Lowell
Unbridled ahead of today’s gag order hearing, Donald Trump was last night lashing out on Truth Social at special counsel Jack Smith and federal judge Tanya Chutkan – exactly the kind of posts prosecutors are trying to restrict.
His post read, in part:
Tomorrow is a big day for Democracy. A Leaking, Crooked and Deranged Prosecutor, Jack Smith, who has a terrible record of failure, is asking a highly partisan Obama appointed Judge, Tanya Chutkan, who should recuse herself based on the horrible things she has said, to silence me, through the use of a powerful GAG ORDER, making it impossible for me to criticize those who are doing the silencing, namely Crooked Joe Biden, and his corrupt and weaponized DOJ & FBI.
Judges opens hearing to consider gag order on Trump in election subversion case
Hugo Lowell
Judge Tanya Chutkan has entered the courtroom in Washington DC to hear arguments from prosecutors and defense attorneys over whether to impose a gag order on Donald Trump in his trial on charges related to trying to overturn the 2020 election.
Follow along as we cover it here live.
As we wait for the start of the hearing where judge Tanya Chutkan will weigh imposing a gag order on Donald Trump in the federal election subversion case, here’s a rundown of the other legal matters the former president faces, both criminal and civil. From the Guardian’s Joan E Greve and Andrew Witherspoon:
After four arrests in as many months, Donald Trump has now been charged with 91 felony counts across criminal cases in New York, Florida, Washington and Georgia. The former president and current frontrunner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary faces the threat of prison time if he is convicted.
As Trump attempts to delay his criminal trials, civil lawsuits endanger the former president’s financial and business prospects. A New York jury has already found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E Jean Carroll, awarding her $5m in damages. A separate civil inquiry, led by New York attorney general Letitia James, seeks $250 million that the Trump Organization allegedly obtained through fraud.
Here’s where each case against Trump stands:
Hugo Lowell
I’ve spotted Donald Trump’s lawyers at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse in downtown Washington DC.
Todd Blanche, Greg Singer, John Lauro and Emil Bove will represent the former president, who is spending today campaigning in Iowa, a crucial state in the GOP’s presidential nomination process.
Attorney Paul Kamenar, an advisor to his legal team, was also in attendance, as was Stanley Woodward, who is representing Trump valet Walt Nauta in the separate federal case over the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago resort.
Far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has made her way down to the federal courthouse in Washington DC for today’s hearing on a potential gag order for Donald Trump, the Guardian Hugo Lowell reports:
She, admittedly, may not have much else to do. The House of Representatives remains non-operational as the Republican majority continues to haggle over a speaker. The party’s lawmakers are scheduled to tomorrow nominate a candidate for the post, though it’s unclear if anyone can get the 217 votes necessary to win the gavel.
Greene has been one of Trump’s most ardent defenders in Congress, and kept it up on Twitter ahead of the hearing:
From the Guardian’s Hugo Lowell, here’s more on what a gag order could mean for Donald Trump as he defends himself from federal charges related to trying to overturn the 2020 election, while once again campaigning for the White House:
A federal judge is expected to consider on Monday whether to impose a limited gag order on Donald Trump in the criminal case over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, potentially restricting what he can say about potential trial witnesses and prosecutors.
The decision for US district judge Tanya Chutkan at the hearing, scheduled for 10am in Washington, comes with unique challenges given the potential for Trump to test the limits of a protective order or even flout it outright – opening the explosive sanctions question of whether to jail him in response.
Since Trump was charged in August with conspiring to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power, prosecutors have complained in court filings that Trump has made dozens of prejudicial statements that could intimidate people from testifying against him at trial and poison the jury pool.
The filings cited, in particular, Trump’s posts attacking his former vice-president, Mike Pence, for testifying during the criminal investigation, and posts suggesting the former chair of the joint chiefs of staff Gen Mark Milley, another potential trial witness, should be executed.
“In times gone by,” Trump wrote in one post of Milley and his move to insulate the US defense department at the end of the Trump administration, “the punishment would have been DEATH! A war between China and the United States could have been the result of this treasonous act. To be continued!”
Federal judge to consider gag order on Trump in January 6 case
Good morning, US politics blog readers. That Donald Trump is a big talker is well known, but his penchant for hurling insults at those who cross him is now a legal issue. Jack Smith, the special counsel who has brought charges against him for trying to overturn the 2020 election, has requested that federal judge Tanya Chutkan impose a gag order on Trump to prevent him from attacking people involved in the case, including the witnesses he likes to malign in public appearances and Truth Socials posts. A hearing on that motion will begin at 10am eastern time today in Washington DC, and if Chutkan agrees, it would mark the first instance that Trump has faced legal consequences for his notoriously big mouth.
But it would also open up a host of other questions for the former president, who is right now the frontrunner in the GOP primary. What would happen if Trump violates the gag order? Would Chutkan order him to jail, as she theoretically could? How would it impact his ability to campaign? Chutkan could rule today, or later on, and we’ll cover the hearing as it happens on this blog.
Here’s what else is going on today:
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Joe Biden postponed a scheduled trip to Colorado “to participate in national security meetings,” the White House just announced, as Israel’s expected invasion of Gaza looms.
-
House Republicans continue squabbling over who should replace Kevin McCarthy as speaker, with no resolution in sight ahead of a nomination vote scheduled for Tuesday.
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Trump is, meanwhile, campaigning in Iowa, the first state to vote in the GOP’s nominating process.
Summarize this content to 100 words Judges opens hearing to consider gag order on Trump in election subversion caseHugo LowellJudge Tanya Chutkan has entered the courtroom in Washington DC to hear arguments from prosecutors and defense attorneys over whether to impose a gag order on Donald Trump in his trial on charges related to trying to overturn the 2020 election.Follow along as we cover it here live.Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureHugo LowellIf judge Tanya Chutkan places a gag order on Donald Trump, the question would then become, what happens if he violates it?Chutkan asked special counsel prosecutor Molly Gaston what the enforcement mechanism should be if she imposes a gag order, noting the “order [is] pointless if [there is] no mechanism to enforce”. Penalties for violating it could include admonishing Trump, imposing financial penalties, moving his court date or modifying his conditions of release.Chutkan asked Trump lawyer John Lauro the same question, who replied that such an order would be “actually impossible”. He argued that they were in the midst of a presidential campaign, and questioned how statements Trump made in a hypothetical debate with someone like his former vice-president turned rival Mike Pence would be handled under the order.Hugo LowellDonald Trump’s lawyer John Lauro argued the former president abided by his conditions of release despite his inflammatory statements about potential witnesses and prosecutors.Judge Tanya Chutkan replied, “I’m going to take issue with that” and added, “This trial will not yield to the election cycle”.Lauro, meanwhile, is arguing that Trump is entitled to say he’s being treated unfairly.Hugo LowellJudge Tanya Chutkan kicked off the hearing by turning down prosecutors’ request for restrictions on the surveys Donald Trump’s attorneys plan to send to potential jurors.The former president’s team has been concerned about the jury pool in Washington DC, which is overwhelmingly Democratic, and wants to use the surveys to inquire about their views on Trump and the January 6 insurrection. Special counsel Jack Smith’s team had asked Chutkan to require Trump’s lawyers to submit the surveys first before sending them out – arguing they could taint the jury pool – but the judge declined to do so.Hugo LowellUnbridled ahead of today’s gag order hearing, Donald Trump was last night lashing out on Truth Social at special counsel Jack Smith and federal judge Tanya Chutkan – exactly the kind of posts prosecutors are trying to restrict.His post read, in part: Tomorrow is a big day for Democracy. A Leaking, Crooked and Deranged Prosecutor, Jack Smith, who has a terrible record of failure, is asking a highly partisan Obama appointed Judge, Tanya Chutkan, who should recuse herself based on the horrible things she has said, to silence me, through the use of a powerful GAG ORDER, making it impossible for me to criticize those who are doing the silencing, namely Crooked Joe Biden, and his corrupt and weaponized DOJ & FBI. Judges opens hearing to consider gag order on Trump in election subversion caseHugo LowellJudge Tanya Chutkan has entered the courtroom in Washington DC to hear arguments from prosecutors and defense attorneys over whether to impose a gag order on Donald Trump in his trial on charges related to trying to overturn the 2020 election.Follow along as we cover it here live.As we wait for the start of the hearing where judge Tanya Chutkan will weigh imposing a gag order on Donald Trump in the federal election subversion case, here’s a rundown of the other legal matters the former president faces, both criminal and civil. From the Guardian’s Joan E Greve and Andrew Witherspoon:After four arrests in as many months, Donald Trump has now been charged with 91 felony counts across criminal cases in New York, Florida, Washington and Georgia. The former president and current frontrunner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary faces the threat of prison time if he is convicted.As Trump attempts to delay his criminal trials, civil lawsuits endanger the former president’s financial and business prospects. A New York jury has already found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E Jean Carroll, awarding her $5m in damages. A separate civil inquiry, led by New York attorney general Letitia James, seeks $250 million that the Trump Organization allegedly obtained through fraud.Here’s where each case against Trump stands:Hugo LowellI’ve spotted Donald Trump’s lawyers at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse in downtown Washington DC.Todd Blanche, Greg Singer, John Lauro and Emil Bove will represent the former president, who is spending today campaigning in Iowa, a crucial state in the GOP’s presidential nomination process.Attorney Paul Kamenar, an advisor to his legal team, was also in attendance, as was Stanley Woodward, who is representing Trump valet Walt Nauta in the separate federal case over the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago resort.Far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has made her way down to the federal courthouse in Washington DC for today’s hearing on a potential gag order for Donald Trump, the Guardian Hugo Lowell reports: Spotted in the public line for Trump’s gag order hearing today: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) October 16, 2023 She, admittedly, may not have much else to do. The House of Representatives remains non-operational as the Republican majority continues to haggle over a speaker. The party’s lawmakers are scheduled to tomorrow nominate a candidate for the post, though it’s unclear if anyone can get the 217 votes necessary to win the gavel.Greene has been one of Trump’s most ardent defenders in Congress, and kept it up on Twitter ahead of the hearing:They are attempting to muzzle the most popular political figure in America!President Donald J Trump!Stripping all Americans’ (both supporters and not) opportunity to hear from the leading candidate for President.UnConstitutional and unAmerican! pic.twitter.com/4MHAUPGv8O— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) October 16, 2023 From the Guardian’s Hugo Lowell, here’s more on what a gag order could mean for Donald Trump as he defends himself from federal charges related to trying to overturn the 2020 election, while once again campaigning for the White House:A federal judge is expected to consider on Monday whether to impose a limited gag order on Donald Trump in the criminal case over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, potentially restricting what he can say about potential trial witnesses and prosecutors.The decision for US district judge Tanya Chutkan at the hearing, scheduled for 10am in Washington, comes with unique challenges given the potential for Trump to test the limits of a protective order or even flout it outright – opening the explosive sanctions question of whether to jail him in response.Since Trump was charged in August with conspiring to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power, prosecutors have complained in court filings that Trump has made dozens of prejudicial statements that could intimidate people from testifying against him at trial and poison the jury pool.The filings cited, in particular, Trump’s posts attacking his former vice-president, Mike Pence, for testifying during the criminal investigation, and posts suggesting the former chair of the joint chiefs of staff Gen Mark Milley, another potential trial witness, should be executed.“In times gone by,” Trump wrote in one post of Milley and his move to insulate the US defense department at the end of the Trump administration, “the punishment would have been DEATH! A war between China and the United States could have been the result of this treasonous act. To be continued!”Federal judge to consider gag order on Trump in January 6 caseGood morning, US politics blog readers. That Donald Trump is a big talker is well known, but his penchant for hurling insults at those who cross him is now a legal issue. Jack Smith, the special counsel who has brought charges against him for trying to overturn the 2020 election, has requested that federal judge Tanya Chutkan impose a gag order on Trump to prevent him from attacking people involved in the case, including the witnesses he likes to malign in public appearances and Truth Socials posts. A hearing on that motion will begin at 10am eastern time today in Washington DC, and if Chutkan agrees, it would mark the first instance that Trump has faced legal consequences for his notoriously big mouth.But it would also open up a host of other questions for the former president, who is right now the frontrunner in the GOP primary. What would happen if Trump violates the gag order? Would Chutkan…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2023/oct/16/trump-gag-order-jan-6-trial-biden-israel-politics-live-updates Hearing under way for judge considering gag order on Trump in 2020 election interference case – US politics live | US politics