The judge overseeing the case involving Donald Trump's classified documents expressed skepticism on Monday about a request from prosecutors. Prosecutors are seeking to prohibit the former president from making statements that could endanger the safety of law enforcement officers working on the case.
During a hearing in a federal court in Florida, U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon asked prosecutors to provide evidence that Trump's false statements about the FBI being authorized to assassinate him led to threats of violence against law enforcement officers involved in the case.
She stated, "It still requires proof of the connection between the allegedly dangerous statements and the risk of physical harm from Trump supporters."
Trump has falsely claimed in social media posts and fundraising messages that the FBI executed a routine use-of-force policy authorized to assassinate him when they raided his Mar-a-Lago residence in 2022 and seized documents he had taken from the White House.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of illegally retaining sensitive national security documents and obstructing the government's efforts to retrieve these records after his presidency ended in 2021.
This criminal case is one of four that Trump faces as he campaigns to defeat Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 5 election.
Judges in two of these cases have imposed partial gag orders on Trump to curb his verbal attacks on prosecutors, witnesses, and other participants.
Prosecutors from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office argued that similar restrictions should be placed on Trump in this case as well. Prosecutor David Harbach told Cannon, "These types of statements go far beyond the boundaries."
