Special counsel Jack Smith has once again faced defeat in his ongoing mission to limit the freedom of speech of former President Donald Trump amidst a barrage of attacks from Democrats through the legal system.
On Tuesday, Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida rejected Smith’s request for a gag order to prevent Trump from speaking out against the Biden administration’s decision to authorize the use of lethal force by the FBI during their raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in August 2022.
Smith’s team filed the motion last Friday, hoping to prevent Trump from denouncing Biden for giving the FBI the authority to do “the unthinkable.”
“BIDEN’S DOJ WAS AUTHORIZED TO SHOOT ME!,” Trump wrote in a fundraising email, according to a New York Times report. “It’s just been revealed that Biden’s DOJ was authorized to use DEADLY FORCE for their DESPICABLE raid in Mar-a-Lago. You know they’re just itching to do the unthinkable … Joe Biden was locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger.”
However, Judge Cannon denied Smith’s motion, describing the “conferral” process between both parties as lacking in substance and professional courtesy, according to The Hill.
As per court rules, both sides are required to confer with each other before filing motions. Yet, Smith’s team only reached out to Trump’s attorneys at 5:30 pm on the Friday before a holiday weekend, leaving little time for proper evaluation and discussion.
Cannon not only dismissed Smith’s request on the grounds that it lacked merit but also reprimanded Smith for disregarding proper procedures.
“The court stresses that conferral is not a mere formality. Adequate time should be afforded to allow for thorough evaluation of the requested relief and meaningful discussions,” Cannon wrote.
She also emphasized that failure to comply with these requirements could result in penalties.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, Trump’s legal team filed a response lambasting Smith’s request for a gag order and labeling it as an “extraordinary, unprecedented, and unconstitutional censorship application,” according to CNN.
They contended that Smith, acting as a “self-appointed Thought Police,” was attempting to restrict Trump’s freedom based on Smith’s personal political views.
This is not the first time Smith has sought to silence Trump. He successfully obtained a partial gag order against Trump in the election interference case he brought against the former president in Washington, D.C. The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has upheld this order, as reported by The New York Times.
Trump is also currently under a gag order for his trial in Manhattan over allegations of “hush money” payments, which is nearing its conclusion.
BREAKING: Judge Cannon, as expected, denies Jack Smith’s proposed gag order, warns sanctions could be next if he keeps violating the rules. pic.twitter.com/T2Yxb1zvm6
— Julie Kelly ???????? (@julie_kelly2) May 28, 2024
This recent decision by Judge Cannon is a victory for Trump and his legal team, as it upholds his right to speak freely and fight back against baseless attacks from the left. It also serves as a warning to Smith and others who may try to suppress the former president’s voice in the future – justice will prevail, and attempts to silence Trump will not be tolerated.