Federal Appeals Court Upholds Trump's Gag Order, with Limited Criticism Allowed

A federal appeals court upheld a partial gag order barring former President Donald Trump from targeting witnesses in his election interference case. The court ruled that Trump's public statements pose a threat to the fair adjudication of the ongoing criminal proceeding. However, the judges allowed Trump to continue his attacks on special counsel Jack Smith, narrowing the ruling. Trump plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, claiming a violation of his First Amendment rights. The court emphasized the importance of protecting witnesses from intimidation and harassment, stating that no criminal defendant should be allowed to interfere with witnesses. Trump faces trial for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.