Jack Smith cites Trump's gun stunt and call to execute Milley in new push to gag him ahead of trial

Special counsel Jack Smith's team is calling out former President Donald Trump's actions on the campaign trail as reasons why he needs to be hit with a gag order ahead of his trial for allegedly defrauding the United States by trying to illegally remain in power after losing the 2020 election.

Law and Crime News reports that, in a court filing made this past Friday, Smith's team cited Trump publicly musing about illegally buying a gun while under indictment, coupled with his comments about executing Gen. Mark Milley, as evidence that tighter restrictions on him are needed.

In particular, Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gaston wrote that Trump should not have "free rein to publicly intimidate witnesses and malign the court," while adding that "Donald Trump is a criminal defendant like any other. And as this court has correctly stated, it has an obligation to protect the integrity of these proceedings from prejudicial interference."

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Trump in the past has shown no inhibitions about attacking not only prosecutors, but also the judges overseeing his cases.

On Monday morning, for instance, Trump attacked New York Attorney General Letitia James as "racist" and accused New York Judge Arthur Engoron of being a "rogue" just minutes before he was due to appear in court.