According to Mediate, Federal District Judge Tanya Chutkan has decisively thwarted ex-President Donald Trump’s attempt to manipulate the legal proceedings in his favor. In a remarkable turn of events, Judge Chutkan resolutely dismissed Trump’s bid to postpone a crucial hearing until the following week, a request that stood in direct defiance of the deadline that had been explicitly established by her in a prior order.
The latest episode in this legal saga unfolded on a Friday evening when the Special Counsel Jack Smith took swift action in response to a provocative post on Trump’s Truth social platform. The post ominously declared,
“If you go after me, I’m coming after you,” raising concerns about potential intimidation of witnesses. Seizing upon this alarming development, Smith urgently filed a petition for a protective order, making a compelling argument that Trump’s social media posts held the potential to cast a chilling effect on witnesses and undermine the integrity of the legal process.
Unfazed by the high-stakes nature of the situation, Judge Chutkan swiftly took control of the narrative. She immediately directed Trump’s legal team to furnish a comprehensive response to the Special Counsel’s concerns by the following Monday, thereby leaving little room for procedural maneuvering. Rejecting any attempts at delay, Judge Chutkan displayed her unwavering commitment to the timeline she had laid out, refusing to grant an extension of the deadline that would have pushed the hearing well into the ensuing week.
Furthermore, Judge Chutkan proceeded to exert her authority by issuing a mandate to both sides. She stipulated that each party must propose a potential hearing date for the imminent week, with a clear ultimatum that the selected date must not exceed Friday. Special Counsel Smith and his legal contingent promptly complied, expressing their availability for a hearing on any day between Wednesday and Friday. However, Trump’s legal team, perhaps strategically, asserted their unavailability for the current week, opting instead to seek a deferral until the subsequent week.
In a noteworthy plea, Trump’s legal representatives outlined the complexities of their scheduling conflicts. They highlighted that while President Trump himself would not be attending the hearing, he intended to be represented by his legal counsels, John Lauro and Todd Blanche. A notable impediment to their proposed dates was Todd Blanche’s prior commitment to a court proceeding involving the same defendant, President Trump, in a separate case in SD Florida. Despite the intricacies of the situation, Trump’s team earnestly implored for a hearing to be scheduled on Monday or Tuesday of the upcoming week, enabling the simultaneous presence of both Lauro and Blanche.
Ultimately, Judge Chutkan wielded her gavel with precision and finality. In a succinct but resolute “MINUTE ORDER,” she fixed the date for the pivotal hearing: August 11, 2023, at 10:00 AM, firmly establishing the proceedings in Courtroom 9. Importantly, the requirement for ex-President Trump’s physical presence at the hearing was conspicuously waived, underscoring the efficiency of the legal process while allowing the arguments and legal minds to take center stage.
President Trump will not appear. However, he would like to have both his counsel John Lauro and Todd Blanche at the hearing. Todd Blanche is not available on Thursday, since he must appear for a court proceeding in the prosecution brought against the same defendant, President Trump, by the Special Counsel in SD Florida. Mr. Lauro is available on Thursday, with a preference for an afternoon setting. However, since we lost Friday as an option, we would respectfully request a setting on Monday (after 12:00 p.m.) or Tuesday (all day) to allow for both Mr. Blanche and Mr. Lauro to be present.
MINUTE ORDER as to DONALD J. TRUMP: The court hereby schedules a hearing on the parties’ respective protective order proposals in this matter on August 11, 2023 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 9. The requirement of Defendant’s appearance is waived for this hearing. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 08/08/2023
