Prosecutors asked a federal appeals court in Washington on Tuesday to give its approval to a gag order imposed on former President Donald J. Trump in his federal election interference case, saying that Mr. Trump's long history of targeting his adversaries on social media has often led to dangers in the real world.
In a 67-page filing, Cecil Vandevender...told the appeals court that Mr. Trump had received several warnings to curb his aggressive public statements. Still, Mr. Vandevender wrote, the former president has persistently sought to malign Mr. Smith and his family, and target specific witnesses with attacks on their character and credibility. Mr. Trump's attacks on those involved in the election interference case were part of a pattern, stretching back years, in which people publicly targeted by the defendant are, as a result of the targeting, subject to harassment, threats and intimidation, Mr. Vandevender wrote.
Judge Chutkan paused the order briefly nearly four weeks ago to consider some issues involving the appeal, but then reinstated it at Mr. Smith's request after Mr. Trump continued to violate its provisions. Not long after, the appeals court itself temporarily suspended the order as it considered whether it had been properly issued in the first place.
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