The Justice Department has asked the federal judge overseeing Donald Trump’s election fraud case to issue a protective order after the former president appeared to threaten revenge on those who “go after” him.
Special counsel Jack Smith argued in the Friday night filing that Trump, 77, needs strict orders that prevent him from publicly sharing key details about the four-count indictment, which was brought down on Tuesday.
The DOJ request was made hours after Trump wrote “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!,” in a Truth Social post.
“If the defendant were to begin issuing public posts using details — or, for example, grand jury transcripts— obtained in discovery here, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case,” Smith wrote in the filing.
Prosecutors argued that the former president has a penchant for sharing privileged information with his followers and has done so in recent months related to other two indictments lodged against him.
Smith cited Trump’s Friday Truth Social post in the filing and said the Justice Department was prepared to hand Trump’s team a “substantial” amount of evidence — “much of which includes sensitive and confidential information” — but were concerned the former president would leak it on social media.
Smith claims three different proposed protective order drafts were shared between the DOJ and Trump’s legal team, but that each was shot down by one of the respective parties.
If granted, the federally-mandated protective order would allow Trump and his team to discuss the evidence internally and with witnesses, but not with the public.
It would also put stricter limits on “sensitive materials,” which includes grand jury witness testimony and materials obtained through sealed search warrants.
The request comes one day after Trump pleaded not guilty to charges he tried to overturn the 2020 election results.
With Post wires
