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Chutkan Issues Formal Gag Order on Trump

Katherine Pompilio
Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 12:11 PM
The order prohibits Trump from making public statements that target the special counsel, court staff, and witnesses.

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On Oct. 17, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued an opinion and order barring Trump and other “interested parties” from:

making any public statements, or directing others to make any public statements, that target (1) the Special Counsel prosecuting this case or his staff; (2) defense counsel or their staff; (3) any of this court’s staff or other supporting personnel; or (4) any reasonably foreseeable witness or the substance of their testimony.

According to the order, the court found that Trump’s statements “pose sufficiently grave threats to the integrity of these proceedings that cannot be addressed by alternative means.” 

You can read the order here or below:


Katherine Pompilio is an associate editor of Lawfare. She holds a B.A. with honors in political science from Skidmore College.

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