Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed for a protective order with the federal judge overseeing the indictment of former President Donald Trump for charges related to the January 6th protest.
The order would limit what Trump can say publicly about the case once Smith's team turns over case materials to Trump's legal team. Many have speculated that Smith's case is extremely weak and he needs Trump silenced to ensure the indictment drags on long enough to damage Trump's presidential campaign.
Smith is using Trump's Truth Social activity as a pretext for gagging the former President and keeping him from communicating with the American people.
In one post, Trump declared that "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!" That post was seemingly aimed at the Department of Justice which Trump has sworn to clean out if he wins the election next year.
Censoring Trump
Smith and his allies know that Trump cannot be allowed to broadcast what is happening in this case to the American people.
The Department of Justice's case against Trump is weak and is designed to bog Trump down and damage his campaign. A conviction is unlikely and isn't the goal of the indictment.
According to Smith's filing, "All the proposed order seeks to prevent is the improper dissemination or use of discovery materials, including to the public. Such a restriction is particularly important in this case because the defendant has previously issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him."
The filing also argued, "If the defendant were to begin issuing public posts using details — or, for example, grand jury transcripts — obtained in discovery here, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case."
This argument ignores the vested interest that the American people have in this case. Trump is the leading candidate of the GOP and will likely be the one challenging President Biden in next year's presidential election.
The political nature means that the flow of information needs to be as open as possible.
Smith's team acts concerned about the fair administration of justice and yet they have no concerns about the appearance of fairness when it comes to the jury being selected from the population of Washington D.C.
Trump's legal team is working to get the case moved as the judge overseeing the case has also publicly expressed anti-Trump sentiments.
There is no justice in this indictment of Trump and Smith's team is working with the express purpose of influencing the 2024 presidential election.
Whether Trump wins the election next year or not, the Republican Party has a duty to hold the DOJ accountable and to purge it of politicization.
