BREAKING: ACLU says Trump gag order in J6 case is unconstitutional

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia stating that the gag order imposed against Trump in the federal election case brought forth by special counsel Jack Smith is unconstitutional.

"The obvious and unprecedented public interest in this prosecution, as well as the widespread political speech that it has generated and will continue to generate, only underscores the need to apply the most stringent First Amendment standard to a restraint on Defendant’s speech rights," the ACLU wrote in its Amicus Brief.

"Reading the order, Defendant cannot possibly know what he is permitted to say, and what he is not,” the order adds, urging Judge Tanya Chutkan to reevaluate her order, stating that some aspects of the gag order’s meaning are "unknown and perhaps unknowable."

"Former President, and now Defendant, Donald Trump has said many things. Much that he has said has been patently false and has caused great harm to countless individuals, as well as to the Republic itself. Some of his words and actions have led him to this criminal indictment, which alleges grave wrongdoing in contempt of the peaceful transition of power," the brief read.

"But Trump retains a First Amendment right to speak, and the rest of us retain a right to hear what he has to say. Thus, any restraint this Court imposes on Defendant’s future speech must be precisely defined and narrowly tailored to protect the impartial administration of justice. Respectfully, the Court’s October 17 gag order fails that test, and Amici urge the Court to re-evaluate it."

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

20231025 Aclu Aclu Dc Amicus Brief United States v Trump Ddc No 23 Cr 257 by Libby Emmons on Scribd