2023-08-05 15:30:17
After his court date in Washington, a statement on social media brought new legal trouble to former US President Donald Trump. “If you follow me, I will follow you,” wrote the Republican on the online platform Truth Social, which he co-founded, on Friday, just one day following the indictment once morest him was read out in the US capital.
Special Counsel Jack Smith believes Trump’s statement is directed once morest witnesses, judges and attorneys involved in the criminal case surrounding Trump’s attempted voter fraud and the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. According to Smith, Trump’s statement is evidence that Trump cannot be relied upon to keep secret confidential information disclosed to him during the course of the proceedings. A request by the special counsel filed with the court on Friday evening (local time) said there was a risk that Trump would use evidence confronted with him to intimidate or threaten witnesses. Smith therefore asked the court to quickly show Trump and his lawyers limits for handling sensitive information.
A Trump spokesman said in a statement Saturday that Trump’s post on Truth Social was nothing more than “political speech” and had nothing to do with the case. Trump had already been reminded during the indictment on Thursday as part of the usual court procedure that it is a criminal offense to try to influence a jury, to threaten a witness or other persons or to bribe them.
Trump sees the prosecution once morest him as politically motivated. The day following the court hearing in Washington, he used both Truth Social and a campaign speech that evening to rant extensively once morest the crackdown. The 77-year-old, who wants to run once more in the 2024 presidential election, is accused of orchestrating a conspiracy once morest the state. Trump pleaded “not guilty” on Thursday.
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