Court rulings and legal news reports

Judge Cannon Denies Gag Order Request Against Trump in Classified Documents Case, Without Prejudice

May 28, 2024, 03:38 PM

A federal judge has denied Special Counsel Jack Smith's request for a gag order against former President Donald Trump in the classified documents case. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that prosecutors did not meaningfully confer with Trump's defense team before filing the request, which was submitted on Friday evening. The judge criticized the Special Counsel's approach as lacking in substance and professional courtesy, and issued a stern warning of potential sanctions if similar issues arise in the future. The request aimed to bar Trump from making statements that could endanger law enforcement, particularly after his campaign falsely claimed the FBI was authorized to assassinate him during a search of his Mar-a-Lago estate. Judge Cannon denied the request without prejudice, allowing prosecutors to potentially refile after proper consultation with Trump's legal team. Additionally, Cannon denied both motions filed over the weekend related to the gag order request.