Former President Donald Trump has initiated an appeal process in response to the partial gag order imposed earlier this week in the Jan. 6 investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith.
In documents submitted to the court on Tuesday, Trump’s legal team indicated their intention to contest Judge Tanya Chutkan’s partial gag order. They posited that the said order may set a concerning precedent regarding the First Amendment, especially in the context of campaign speech.
While the current appeal notice does not delve into detailed legal arguments, it suggests that Trump’s counsel will likely focus on potential infringements on his First Amendment rights. Commenting on the matter, Trump shared with reporters in a New York courtroom on Tuesday, “We’re being railroaded. And I have other trials where we’re being railroaded. You saw yesterday where they took away my right to speak. I won’t be able to speak like I’m speaking to you.”
Amidst these developments, the former president asserted his position in presidential polls, stating, “I am leading Joe Biden” and expressed concerns about the perceived limitations, remarking, “My speech has been taken away from me. I’m a candidate that’s running for office and I’m not allowed to speak.”
The gag order put forth by the federal court specifically curtails Trump from publicly disparaging court personnel, Mr. Smith, members of the special counsel’s team, or potential witnesses tied to the case. Notably, the order does not extend to comments about the Department of Justice or the city of Washington, where the court proceedings are expected to take place.
