Donald Trump: Federals Appeals Court Rejects Former President's Bid to Lift DC Gag Order

By BERT HOOVER Jan 23 2024, 20:53 PM EST

The federal appeals court in Washington, DC, has rejected a request to rehear arguments regarding the Donald Trump DC gag order, as the former president awaits trial in the special counsel's January 6 criminal case, according to CNN.

Trump has been challenging the order, which restricts him from discussing witnesses and court staff, but the 11 judges from the DC Circuit Court of Appeals declined to intervene after a previous three-judge panel upheld the gag order.

Donald Trump's legal team has the option to appeal to the Supreme Court, a course of action they have indicated they may pursue.

Donald Trump DC Gag Order Upheld Amidst Legal Battles

The 11-member bench of the appeals court, including three of Trump's appointees, decided not to reconsider the decision upholding the Donald Trump DC gag order, per POLITICO.

The order, initially issued by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, was supported by a three-judge panel on December 8.

The panel cited threats to witnesses, attorneys, and court personnel arising from Trump's statements as the basis for maintaining the gag order.

The court's ruling leaves Trump with the possibility of appealing to the Supreme Court if he wishes to challenge the restrictions further.

Notably, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals did not call for a vote on the request for rehearing, suggesting a lack of strong support for further review among the judges.

This differs from a recent decision where four conservative judges expressed concerns about a ruling related to special counsel Jack Smith's effort to obtain Trump's Twitter data.

The unanimous panel supporting the gag order emphasized Judge Chutkan's duty to prevent an atmosphere of fear or intimidation that could interfere with the trial process.

They argued that limiting Trump's speech was essential to maintaining the trial's integrity and ensuring the safety of participants.

Donald Trump DC Gag Order Legal Challenges

Trump, who has criticized the gag order as a violation of his First Amendment rights, may now turn to the Supreme Court for a final decision.

The courts have consistently highlighted the potential harm caused by unrestricted speech from Trump, particularly his attacks on witnesses and prosecutors.

Donald Trump's legal team argues that the gag order infringes on his rights, especially during his active political campaign for the presidency.

Trump also appealed to the full Appeals Court to overturn the order last month, but this attempt was denied, Fox News reports.

The latest decision by the federal appeals court sets the stage for a potential Supreme Court review, where Donald Trump and his attorneys will argue against the limitations imposed by the gag order.

Trump, facing federal charges related to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.

The legal battle over the Donald Trump DC gag order continues against the backdrop of the former president's political ambitions for the 2024 presidential race.