Donald Trump: threatening social media post flagged by prosecutors in court filing

In a recent development surrounding the legal proceedings against former President Donald Trump, federal prosecutors have lodged a request for a court-issued protective order aimed at curbing his communication regarding his ongoing criminal case. This request comes in the wake of a notable social media post by the ex-president, where he asserted, "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!" The prosecutors argue that this statement, which they perceive as confrontational, necessitates precautions to prevent any undue influence on the legal process.

The prosecutors, operating under the leadership of US Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith, are particularly concerned about Trump's history of utilizing social media platforms to comment on various legal matters and individuals who are entangled in legal proceedings. This inclination, they contend, raises the possibility of interference in the ongoing case. Consequently, they are advocating for a protective order that would restrict Trump's legal team from disseminating sensitive materials such as grand jury interviews or any other pertinent "sensitive" information provided to them during the discovery process.

The protective order, as envisioned by the prosecutors, is aimed at forestalling any potential harm that might be caused to witnesses, while also safeguarding the principle of the fair administration of justice. They assert that if Trump were to share public statements rooted in the material obtained during the discovery phase, it could inadvertently have a chilling effect on witnesses, possibly affecting their willingness to cooperate or provide candid testimony.

In addition to their request for the protective order, the prosecutors are urging the court to implement these restrictions before Trump's legal team has the opportunity to respond to the request. The judge presiding over the case has granted Trump a deadline by which he must respond to this request, setting it at 5pm local time on Monday.

This scenario is not the first time that judges have cautioned Donald Trump against making public comments that could potentially incite violence or civil unrest. In a previous instance, during a court hearing in New York, state judge Juan M Merchan warned Trump against such behavior, particularly in relation to his usage of the Truth Social platform. Merchan, who has been referred to by Trump as "a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family," is currently overseeing a case involving allegations of Trump falsifying business records to conceal payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Beyond this, Donald Trump is concurrently facing federal charges in Miami related to alleged unauthorized possession of classified documents subsequent to his tenure as president. He has entered a plea of not guilty in these cases as well, further emphasizing his stance of defending his innocence in the various legal challenges he is currently facing.