Former President Donald Trump hit back at Special Counsel Jack Smith on Monday morning, accusing him of leaking case details and demanding he get a protection order.
Trump pleaded not guilty in court last week to four federal charges related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
On Friday, Smith asked a Washington, D.C. court for an injunction barring Trump and his lawyers from sharing discovery materials with unauthorized persons.
He said a social media post from Trump suggested the former president would reveal classified material obtained from prosecutors in the course of the case.
Trump’s lawyers have until 5 p.m. Monday to respond.
Special Counsel Jack Smith applied for a protection order on Friday to prevent former President Donald Trump and his team from sharing discovery materials with unauthorized persons
Trump’s legal team has until 5 p.m. Monday to respond. The former president previously offered his response, claiming it would threaten his right to free speech
But Trump took to his own Truth Social platform to provide his own response earlier in the day.
“No, I should not be getting a protection order because it would affect my right to FREEDOM OF SPEAKING,” he wrote.
“Crazy Jack Smith and the Department of Injustice should be doing that, because they’re “leaking” illegally all over the place!”
He offered no evidence that Smith or his team leaked details of the case.
Trump — who is favored to win the GOP’s 2024 presidential nomination — is also accused of intimidating witnesses lined up to testify against him.
On Friday, he posted, “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I WILL COME AFTER YOU.”
Within hours, Smith used it to demand a protection order and offered it as proof that Trump was determined to attack his critics by any means necessary.
He said steps should be taken to ensure that Trump does not use “discovery” material – the evidence against them – inappropriately.
Trump’s post on Friday prompted a legal action by special counsel on the case
“All the proposed injunction seeks to prevent is the inappropriate dissemination or use of discovery materials, including to the public,” Smith wrote.
Such a restriction is particularly important in this case because the defendant has previously made public statements on social media about witnesses, judges, attorneys and others involved in legal cases pending against him.
“And over the past few days, the defendant has made several posts – specifically or implied – in relation to this case, including the following, which the defendant posted several hours ago.”
Smith then added a screenshot of the Truth Social post.
A Trump spokesman said the post was “political speech” and dismissed claims that it was threatening.
“What President Trump has not done is direct Vice President Pence to do something. He asked him in an ambitious way,” lawyer John Lauro told CNN on Sunday morning
“The Truth post cited is the definition of political speech and was in response to the RINO, China-loving, dishonest interest groups and Super PACs, such as those funded by the Koch Brothers and the Club for No Growth,” they said. she.
After making his Truth Social threat, Trump took the stage Friday night at a rally in Montgomery, Alabama, mocking Smith.
Crazy Jack Smith. Doesn’t he look crazy?’ Trump asked the audience.
“You’ve seen the photos with the purple robe. He’s a crazy person.
“Someone said you should treat him nicer, maybe he would be nice. But let me tell you.
“This man is a lost soul. Bad guy. He’s a crazy sick person.’
One of Trump’s lawyers made the Sunday news shows to defend his client against allegations that he conspired to defraud the US by preventing Congress from sanctioning Democratic President Joe Biden’s victory, thereby depriving US voters of their right to a fair election. deprived.
“Everything President Trump is prosecuted for has included ambitious questions: asking state legislators, asking state governors, asking state election officials to do the right thing,” he told Fox News
“Even asking Vice President Pence was even protected by freedom of speech.”