The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has, despite its longstanding opposition to Donald Trump, agreed a gag order imposed on him and his lawyers by Jan 6 judge Tanya Chutkan violates his First Amendment rights, by placing restrictions on his ability to speak that are “too broad and too vague.”
While usually more concerned with far-left activities such as suing small towns over Christmas decorations featuring Christian symbols in recent years, the ACLU has given a rare nod to its former goal of upholding free speech by filing an amicus brief in Washington, D.C. in defense of Trump’s rights. The brief argues the limits placed on the 45 President’s ability to comment on Chutkan, special prosecutor Jack Smith, and court staff abridge his right to speech, and the public’s right “to hear what he has to say.”
While feeling it necessary to allege without evidence that “[n]o modern-day President did more damage to civil liberties and civil rights than President Trump,” the leftist organization goes on to warn that “if we allow his free speech rights to be abridged… other unpopular voices – even ones we agree with – will also be silenced.”
