“This is not about whether I like the language Mr. Trump uses,” Judge Tanya Chutkan said. “This is about language that presents a danger to the administration of justice.”
“His presidential candidacy does not give him carte blanche to vilify public servants who are simply doing their jobs,” the judge added.
During the hearing, Chutkan took issue with Lauro saying “what you have put in place is working,” regarding Trump’s release conditions. The judge laughed loudly in response to Lauro’s statement, and told the attorney to stop making political arguments in her courtroom.
Arguments put forth by Lauro have prompted Chutkan to cut him off several times, as he argues Trump should not be restricted on what he can say while campaigning for president.
Lauro at one point accused the special counsel’s office, through the proposed gag order, of trying “to prevent President Trump from speaking out about the issues of the day.”
But Chutkan made clear that she wouldn’t tolerate such rhetoric in her courtroom.
“Politics stops at this courtroom door,” she said.
Chutkan also reminded Lauro that Trump is a criminal defendant, with restrictions on him that he can’t intimidate witnesses or jurors while awaiting trial, while Joe Biden is not.
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