Federal prosecutors on Friday requested the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s case involving classified documents to prevent the former president from making public statements that could endanger law enforcement officers involved in the prosecution.
The request to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon comes after Trump claimed earlier this week that FBI agents who searched his Mar-a-Lago estate were authorized to shoot him and posed a threat to his family. This claim was based on a misunderstanding of the FBI’s standard policy on the use of force during searches, which is intended to restrict rather than promote the use of deadly force.
Prosecutors emphasized that the search of Trump’s Florida property was carefully planned in coordination with the Secret Service and occurred when Trump and his family were not present, without any use of force.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at Manhattan Criminal Court (Via Frank Boult/Shutterstock)
In court documents, prosecutors from special counsel Jack Smith’s team argued that Trump’s statements falsely portraying federal agents as part of a plot to harm him could lead to threats, violence, and harassment against law enforcement officers involved in the case, some of whom are expected to testify at his trial.
They stated that restricting Trump from making similar statements in the future would not infringe on his right to free speech, as it aims to protect the safety of law enforcement and uphold the integrity of the legal proceedings.
Defense lawyers have objected to the government’s request, according to prosecutors. An attorney representing Trump did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Friday evening.
