The judge overseeing special counsel Jack Smith's Jan. 6 case against Donald Trump issued a protective order against the former president following a hearing Friday in which she cautioned Trump against making "inflammatory statements" about the case and said that his First Amendment rights are "not absolute."
Judge Tanya Chutkan heard arguments Friday on the terms of a protective order that Smith was seeking in order to prevent "the improper dissemination or use of discovery materials" his team is preparing to turn over to Trump's attorneys for them to prepare Trump's defense. Trump himself was not present at the hearing.
The judge's ruling, issued following the hearing, prohibits the disclosure of a range of "sensitive" materials, including all recordings, transcripts, interview reports and related exhibits shared by the special counsel.
Smith requested the protective order last Friday after Trump posted a message to his social media platform, Truth Social, saying, "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!"
"Mr. Trump, like any American, has a right to free speech," Chutkan told attorneys at Friday's hearing. "But that right is not absolute."
The Trump campaign said Trump's message was aimed at political interest groups.
Chutkan, as she was wrapping up the hearing, cautioned Trump over public statements he has made related to the case -- and suggested that his words could backfire by moving the case to trial even faster.
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