Quote:
Originally Posted by Rajoo
Can't the DOJ ask the judge to put a gag order on Lying ex-chieftain? Its routinely done in many pending lawsuits, or is this a situation where no suit has been filed?
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Trump could have released the warrant at any time at his own discretion without the judge's intervention. He's had it since the raid, so it's pretty obvious he doesn't want it out there. We'll find out tomorrow when his lawyer's respond to DOJ's motion. At that point, the decision goes to the judge. IMO, he'll likely decide to release it in that it was originally a DOJ decision to keep it sealed and the default decision is to release court documents to the public and DOJ no longer opposes it. Trump will say he really really wants to release it, but his lawyers tell him not to. It's his only play.
IOW, DOJ called Trump and his minions' bluff. They were demanding a release, the lack of which helped feed their conspiracy theories (notwithstanding that Trump was free to release it at any time).
As for gag order, it can't be done unless and until a trial commences. It's done to prevent influencing prospective jurors. At this point, we don't have an indictment, a trial or a jury.
The new line from MAGAWorld is already going to be "oh we don't want to see the warrant after all. We demand they release the Affidavit of Probable Cause." (Lindsey Graham did this immediately after Garland's announcement). This is something DOJ can't and won't do unless and until he's charged with a crime.