BREAKING: DC appeals court upholds gag order on Trump in J6 case

On Tuesday, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals denied 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump’s request for the court to reconsider its ruling that partially upheld a gag order against Trump in the January 6 and 2020 election case brought forth by Biden’s special counsel Jack Smith.

The three-panel judge denied the request in a one-page ruling filed on Tuesday. 

The court reinstated the gag order on December 8, which had been paused pending appeal. The order was placed by Judge Tanya Chutkan.

In the December 8 decision, Judge Patricia Millett wrote in the unanimous three-judge ruling that "The First Amendment unquestionably affords political speech robust protection."

"But there is another fundamental constitutional interest at stake here. The existence of a political campaign or political speech does not alter the court’s historical commitment or obligation to ensure the fair administration of justice in criminal cases."

The December ruling upheld a ban on Trump speaking about the participation of witnesses, but removed from the order special counsel Jack Smith as someone off limits.

Commentary by attorneys in the case, court staff, and family members, are prohibited "if those statements are made with the intent to materially interfere with, or to cause others to materially interfere with, counsel’s or staff’s work in this criminal case, or with the knowledge that such interference is highly likely to result."

DC Circuit Court of Appeals Denies Trump's Request by Hannah Nightingale on Scribd