Benzinga - by Bibhu Pattnaik, Benzinga Staff Writer.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has initiated a motion to curtail former President Donald Trump's public comments regarding retired General Mark Milley.
What Happened: On Friday, Smith presented his motion in the District Court for the District of Columbia, aiming to impose a restricted gag order on the former president.
The action was prompted by a statement from Trump on his Truth Social platform. In a post, Trump asserted that Milley, who previously held the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had committed an act of treason.
He further hinted that such actions historically resulted in execution.
It's worth noting that Milley is a significant witness in a D.C. criminal case, where Trump is indicted for purported efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
Also Read: Former Prosecutor Says 'It's Going To Be Impossible' To Get Unbiased Jury In Trump's DC Case
"On September 22, on Truth Social, the defendant falsely claimed that the retiring Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a witness cited in the indictment, had committed treason and suggested that he should be executed," the motion states, as reported by the Mediaite.
The motion also draws attention to another instance where Trump pointed fingers at Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, accusing him of hiding fraudulent votes.
Assistant Special Counsel Molly Gaston emphasized in the document that Trump's public remarks targeting known witnesses are unwarranted.
The legal action by Smith comes on the heels of a decision by Judge Tanya Chutkan. She recently declined a plea from Trump's attorneys who sought her removal from the federal election interference case, citing comments she made during the sentencing of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot participants.
Now Read: Trump Is Emerging As A Stronger Contender Than Previously Thought
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Shutterstock
© 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.