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Judge Comes Down Hard on Trump for Online Threats
U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan has responded to the DOJ's request to issue a protective order after Trump posted threats of revenge against federal prosecutors to his Truth Social account.
Judge Chutkan has entered an order giving Trump until Monday at 5pm ET to explain why she should not enter such a protective order against him in response to the threats.
Here is that order:
Trump responded in a motion dated Saturday, August 5th requesting a three day delay until August 10th to prepare his response to the judge's order.
Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche called the Judge's order a "Friday evening ultimatum" and stated that requesting a response by Monday would encourage "improper tactics by the government in the future."
Blanche further asked for oral argument on the protective order should the parties be "unable to agree an appropriate protective order."
The initial request for delay and the request for an oral argument follow the typical Trump pattern of delaying as long as possible whenever he is faced with legal action.
You can read Trump's full delay request here:
Trump's posts garnered national attention, coming so soon as it did after he left his arraignment with promises to not intimidate witnesses or attempt to obstruct the prosecution.
Federal Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya went out of her way to make it very clear to Trump that there would be consequences for making threats.
Trump swore under oath that he would not attempt to influence or intimidate witnesses, retaliate against anyone, or in any other way attempt to obstruct the administration of justice.
Less than 24 hours later, Trump was posting on his Truth Social account, calling Fulton County DA Fani Willis, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, New York AG Letitia James, and Special Counsel Jack Smith "unscrupulous accomplices" of President Biden. The ad finishes by labeling the prosecutors and the president "the fraud squad."
Trump then ominously posted a threat of revenge, "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU"
Here is MeidasTouch Co-Founder Ben Meiseles discussing Trump's violation of the judge's order:
Trump has gotten away with making violent threats towards his political opponents for far too long. Finally, it appears we have prosecutors and judges who are not intimidated by his violent hateful rhetoric and are prepared to show Trump exactly what the "find out" phase looks like.
