Judge Chuktan warns Trump against ‘inflammatory’ remarks before trial

BBC News:

A federal judge has warned former US President Donald Trump against making “inflammatory” statements which could taint the jury pool ahead of his trial for conspiring to overturn the result of the 2020 election.

But Judge Tanya Chuktan ruled that Mr Trump can publicly share some of the non-sensitive evidence which prosecutors disclose to his legal team.

Friday’s ruling was a blow to the special counsel who had expressed concern Mr Trump might reveal secret material and intimidate witnesses.

At a 90-minute hearing in Washington DC, the judge said the historic case was proceeding as normal.

“He is a criminal defendant. He is going to have restrictions like every single other defendant,” she said.

“The fact that the defendant is engaged in a political campaign is not going to allow him any greater or lesser latitude than any defendant in a criminal case.”

What Mr Trump can reveal publicly is one of several battles being fought between the former president’s legal team and federal prosecutors.