Former federal judge says Trump’s ‘unprecedented’ attacks on judges could ‘imperil’ his case

Former President Trump’s “unprecedented” attacks on judges presiding over his legal troubles could “imperil” his cases, according to a former federal judge.

“The former president’s comments and attacks on the federal judiciary and on the specific individual judges who will preside over his trials are unprecedented in American history,” J. Michael Luttig, who was a federal appeals court judge until 2006, told CNN anchor Anderson Cooper on Wednesday. 

“They are a grave disservice to the nation. They are inexcusable,” he added. “And they imperil the former president himself in — in the defense of his actions on Jan. 6th before the juries that will hear his case.”

Luttig referenced Trump’s social media posts about Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing his federal case related to his efforts to remain in power after his 2020 election loss to President Biden. 

Trump faced heavy criticism after posting ominous messages on his Truth Social platform following his third federal indictment earlier this month. He was charged with four federal counts alleging he attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

“IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” he wrote at the time, a sentiment he later defended as free speech.

The comments prompted the Justice Department to request a protective order for Chutkan, which she entered last week.

“This is, of course, a pattern that the former president has engaged in since at least the day that he has assumed office in 2016,” Luttig said Wednesday.

His remarks come as a Texas woman was recently charged with threatening to kill Chutkan and Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (D-Texas), who announced she is running for Houston mayor.  

Authorities said Abigail Jo Shry called Chutkan’s chambers at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., just days after the third indictment was unveiled. She later admitted to making the threatening call after investigators traced it back to her.

Trump, along with 18 of his allies, were also indicted earlier this week by a Georgia grand jury on charges tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.

The former president, who announced his 2024 reelection bid last November, has been hit with four indictments total since April related to his business dealings, handling of classified documents and his behavior in the aftermath of the 2020 election.