On Sunday evening, Judge Tanya Chutkan moved to reinstate a gag order against Donald Trump in the election interference case being heard in Washington, D.C. The reinstatement followed another stream of messages from Trump that could easily be read as attempts to intimidate witnesses or encourage violence against court officials and prosecutors.
Chutkan originally issued the order on Oct. 16 after prosecutors expressed concern that Trump’s statements created a threat to everyone involved in the trial and could be interpreted as encouraging violence. However, Chutkan agreed to stay implementation after Trump’s attorneys appealed the order. In a brief session on Sunday evening, Chutkan removed that stay, writing that Trump seemed unlikely to win on appeal and reinstating the gag order was in the public interest.
Within two hours of the order being restored, Trump issued a lengthy series of insults directed at former Attorney General Bill Barr, who is a potential witness in the case. This could easily be read as a violation of the gag order.
Donald Trump is a bully. His everyday communication consists of insults, intimidation, and threats—both implicit and overt. A typical message from Trump involves explaining why someone that he once praised is actually “overrated,” “dumb as a rock,” or “a fucking idiot.” Those messages are also often laden with encouragement for Trump’s followers to engage in harassment, or hints that anyone who opposes him will suffer as a result.
These...
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