Judge Chutkan schedules hearing on DOJ’s protective order for this Friday

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan set a date for a hearing on a proposed protective order by prosecutors in special counsel Jack Smith’s case against former President Donald Trump for efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election Tuesday.

The protective order, if granted, will govern how evidence is handled in the case. While Trump’s legal team originally requested a date for the hearing next week, the date is set for Friday at 10 a.m. Trump is not required to be present at the hearing. 

The order, requested last Friday by Smith’s team, asks for the former president to be prohibited from publicly sharing evidence in the case during its discovery phase. Trump and his team have hit back at the proposed order, saying it is an “attack” on the freedom of the press and Trump’s own speech.

“No, I shouldn’t have a protective order placed on me because it would impinge upon my right to FREE SPEECH,” Trump said on Truth Socal in response to the order.

Prosecutors originally cited an earlier post by Trump on Truth Social as a reason for the order. 

“IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” Trump wrote in the post.