US: Prosecutors Concerned About Trump’s Witness Intimidation

Four days after Donald Trump’s latest indictment, the standoff between the Republican tenor and the judiciary escalated as prosecutors condemned the billionaire’s threatening post, potentially targeting witnesses in the case. Donald Trump defended himself on Saturday against any pressure, ensuring that he was speaking to his political opponents and not to witnesses or investigators who are suing him for trying to change the results of the 2020 presidential election and support the storming of the Capitol on 6 January 2021.

In a post this Friday afternoon on his Truth Social, the day after he was compared in front of a federal court in Washington, the White House candidate declared in capital letters: “If you look for me, you will find me! » .

Hours later, Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team seized Judge Tanya Chutkan, called to preside over the ex-president’s future trial, asking the Justice of the Peace to issue an injunction aimed at protecting evidence and witnesses from this protracted case.

In support of their request, prosecutors pointed to Donald Trump’s habit of publicly commenting on his troubles with the law: “The defendant has already made public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, lawyers and others associated with ongoing court cases against him,” the report said. wrote.

“Repulsive effect”

Their argument specifically cites Donald Trump’s Friday message in a threatening tone. Fueling prosecutors’ concerns is the fact that Donald Trump’s lawyers will be provided with a series of documents that formed the basis of the indictment, in part from the grand jury, this body of citizens responsible for investigating and possibly recommending an indictment in American criminal process.

“Had the defendant publicly released messages using details – or, for example, grand jury notes (…), this could have a chilling effect on witnesses or undermine the proper consideration of this case by the court,” the document, signed by Jack Smith, says. , which has become a pet peeve of Donald Trump. “The proposed injunction is aimed at preventing the distribution or misuse of procedural documents, in particular among the public,” the prosecutor insists.

Donald Trump, in a statement released earlier this Saturday by his campaign team, defended himself against any intimidation, assuring that his seemingly threatening message did not go beyond “freedom of political expression” and was even “a fine example.” According to him, the words were, in part, “in response to those who are Republicans in name only” or even “China lovers.”

” Disease “

Hours later in South Carolina, the 77-year-old ex-president vowed to purge the Justice Department “today is totally corrupt” before calling Jack Smith, the special counsel, crazy. “If you look at this face, you will think this guy is sick,” Donald Trump said. If re-elected, he said he would appoint his own special prosecutor to punish “all dishonest practices, including bribes (…) that go into the pockets of the Biden mafia family.”

The White House has said the Justice Department operates independently and that President Biden’s team is not involved in court cases against Donald Trump, who claims to be the victim of a “witch hunt.” On Thursday, he pleaded not guilty to the four charges against him. A trial date will be set at the end of August, Attorney Smith wants the case to be heard “without delay.”

The Republican was also facing criminal charges for his alleged careless handling of confidential White House documents and suspicious payments to a former porn actress. .