Trump special counsel Jack Smith enters ex-president’s threatening Truth Social post saying ‘If you go after me, I’m coming after you’ into evidence just HOURS after it was published
- Donald Trump on Thursday told the magistrate in Washington DC that he understood he could not make any threats to those involved in his case
- On Friday, the 77-year-old wrote on his social media network: ‘IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!’ – a seeming threat to those who may cooperate
- Hours later, Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing the prosecution, sought a protective order, citing Trump’s post as evidence he may threaten witnesses
The special counsel overseeing the prosecution of Donald Trump sought an emergency ‘protective order’ on Friday night to prevent Trump using confidential information from the case against possible witnesses, after he wrote on social media: ‘IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!’
Jack Smith made the emergency filing in Washington DC hours after Trump made the post, and cited it as evidence that Trump could not be trusted to keep the discovery material confidential.
Smith warned the post indicated Trump was determined to attack his critics by any means necessary.
‘If the defendant were to begin issuing public posts using details – or, for example, grand jury transcripts – obtained in discovery here, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case,’ Smith wrote.
On Thursday, the judge in his case – which deals with Trump’s efforts to overturn the election – reminded Trump it is a crime to intimidate a juror, bribe anyone or obstruct the administration of justice.
Asked if he understood the standard disclaimer, Trump responded that he did.
Yet on Friday, Trump posted a threat against those involved in the case, leading Smith to fear that Trump could use the discovery material against those involved.
Smith said the proposed protective order was not ‘overly restrictive’, noting that it would still enable Trump to use discovery materials in his defense.
‘All the proposed order seeks to prevent is the improper dissemination or use of discovery materials, including to the public,’ Smith wrote.
