Trump's limited gag order reimposed in federal election subversion case

After US District Judge Tanya Chutkan suspended her gag order, Trump let loose

Donald Trump
Donald Trump is back under a gag order
(Image credit: Scott Olson / Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump is no longer permitted to verbally attack federal prosecutors or court employees working on his election subversion case or go after potential witnesses, after the federal judge overseeing the case reimposed a limited gag order Sunday evening. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan's reasoning in restoring the gag order, which she imposed on Oct. 16 and agreed to suspend on Oct. 20, was not immediately released. 

Trump has argued that the gag order limits his free speech rights, a claim Chutkan initially rejected, saying no other criminal "defendant is permitted to call the prosecutor deranged, or a thug," or intimidate witnesses. After Chutkan agreed to suspend the order, Trump went back to slamming special counsel Jack Smith and sent what prosecutors called "an unmistakable and threatening message" to Mark Meadows, Trump's former White House chief of staff, after it was reported he was given immunity to testify against Trump.  

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.