Donald Trump Gets Warning on Making Statements About 2020 Election Overturn Probe

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan told off Donald Trump and his lawyers regarding his recent rants online about the 2020 election case. This came after Special Counsel Jack Smith asked the judge for a protective order after Trump targeted him, the judge, and potential star witness Mike Pence in his online attacks.

Judge Chutkan did agree with Trump attorneys and granted the limited protective order that they requested, but she also gave them a stern warning, stressing that Trump was subject to the court's rules as a defendant even though he is running for president in 2024.

She then warned Trump and her lawyers that the trial is not in the court of public opinion but in her courtroom, saying, "Your client's defense is supposed to happen in this courtroom, not on the internet."

She also warned that if anybody makes any more "inflammatory" statements about the case, she will be treating the case more urgently and move more quickly to trial to prevent the contamination of the jury pool. She also noted that "arguably ambiguous statements" could be construed as intimidation or harassment, in reference to Trump's recent attacks on his former VP, Mike Pence.

"I will take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of the case," she told both sides. "Mr. Trump, like every American, has a First Amendment right to free speech. But that right is not absolute," she added.

Friday Trial Centered on Protective Order Vs. Donald Trump

The Friday hearing, in particular, was spurred when Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!" before going on all-caps rants against Judge Chutkan, Jack Smith, Georgia DA Fani Willis, and Mike Pence.

Smith immediately asked for a protective order, but the Trump legal team countered this, arguing that this would restrict the former president's First Amendment rights. However, NBC News pointed out that as a general practice, the rights of defendants are usually restricted as the trial goes on.

The judge did side with Trump on this one but still pointed out that the protective order will only apply to "sensitive" materials, not all discovery, which was what prosecutors were requesting. She then told Trump attorneys that warning and said their client should avoid creating a "carnival atmosphere" around the case.

Despite Trump threatening that he will not abide by any protective order, his attorneys promised that judge that "President Trump will scrupulously abide by his conditions of release." This includes not harassing or intimidating witnesses.

Jack Smith Secures Warrant To Search Donald Trump's Twitter Account

During the 2020 election period, Donald Trump spent most of his time blasting opponents on Twitter, now known as X. However, the e Department obtained an order to probe X, as they now have a warrant to take a look at Trump's Twitter page.

Trump was not informed of the search as the former president has shown that he is willing to destroy evidence, as shown in his classified documents case, which Jack Smith is also investigating.

According to The Hill, Trump still blasted the search, though, claiming that the Justice Department made it "a point not to let me know about this major 'hit' on my civil rights."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Judge: Donald Trump must respond to request for protective order by Monday - ABC News