(USNewsMag.com) – Although he hasn’t fared too well in New York, former President Donald Trump landed a free speech win in Florida after the judge overseeing the classified documents case against him denied a request from prosecutors to issue a gag order.
On Tuesday, May 28th, US District Judge Aileen Cannon denied a request from prosecutors for the judge to restrict Trump from publicly commenting on the case.
The request argued that Trump’s public remarks could put law enforcement agents at risk for participating in prosecuting the former president. They said such restrictions were necessary in light of claims by the presumptive GOP presidential nominee that the Biden administration wanted to see him dead as a result of the raid on his Palm Beach estate almost two years ago. Trump remarked last week, noting that agents who searched his home were “authorized” to shoot him and were ready to take him out and put his “family in danger.”
Cannon denied the request and chided the prosecutors for failing to give the defense attorneys enough time to discuss the matter before moving to file the request on Friday, May 24th. She then warned the prosecution team that they would face sanctions for future violations of court requirements. The request was denied without prejudice, so prosecutors can try to file it again.
Cannon’s decision is the latest incident illustrating the tension between the judge, who was nominated to her position by Trump, and federal prosecutors accusing Trump of mishandling classified government materials after leaving office by storing them in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The former president is also charged with obstructing the FBI during their efforts to retrieve the classified material.
The Florida judge’s decision came at the same time that Trump’s attorneys in New York were delivering closing arguments for another case, one related to the alleged hush money payment from the former president to adult film star Stormy Daniels leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
Copyright 2024, USNewsMag.com
