CNN
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A sitting federal judge on Thursday harshly criticized President Donald Trump's attacks on judges overseeing the former president's criminal case related to alleged hush money payments, saying such comments threaten the survival of the American legal system. he told CNN.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton speaks with CNN's Caitlan Collins on “The Source” after President Trump's attack on Judge Juan Marchand, a New York judge issued a gag order against the former president earlier this week This was the impetus for launching the . It is unusual for federal judges to speak publicly, especially about specific political or legal situations.
“It's very embarrassing when someone makes a comment about a judge, and it's especially problematic when that comment takes the form of a threat, especially when it's directed at a family member,” Walton said. said. his daughter. “We do this work because we are dedicated to the rule of law, we believe in the rule of law, and the rule of law is not under any potential threat. It only works effectively if there are judges who are ready to do their job without physical harm.”
“I think it's important to maintain the rule of law to protect democracy,” Walton said in an interview. “And the rule of law can only be maintained if we have an independent judiciary who can carry out their duties and ensure that the law is actually enforced and applied equally to everyone who comes before the court. ”
“I think it's important that we, as judges, speak out on things that we think affect the process. Without a viable court system that functions efficiently, it's tyranny. “I don't think that's good for the future of our country and the future of our democracy,” he continued.
In addition to the New York case and other legal issues, Mr. Trump also faces criminal charges in a federal election interference case, which could go to trial in the court of Judge Tanya Chutkan, one of Mr. Walton's colleagues in the Washington, D.C. District Court. is high. An appeals court has upheld a gag order against President Trump in a 2020 federal election case that limits his ability to speak about court officials that could affect the case. But President Trump continues to criticize judges and others involved in trials elsewhere, even though they are not restricted by gag orders. Court-imposed gag orders against him have become more widespread in recent months as the former president heads to criminal trial and because of his history of documented threats sparked by his public attacks. .
In New York, ahead of the former president's first criminal trial, President Trump has repeatedly attacked District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his associates. Hours before Marchand issued the gag order, President Trump criticized Marchand, his daughter, and one of Bragg's prosecutors. The order does not prevent President Trump from speaking about Bragg, who is a public figure, or Marchan himself, but it does not prevent Trump from speaking about Mr. Bragg or Mr. Marchan, who is a public figure. There are no restrictive measures.”
Walton said Marchand “did the right thing” by not including him in the gag order he imposed on Trump. The gag order restricts President Trump from speaking about potential witnesses, lawyers, court officials or family members of prosecutors or lawyers who might try to disrupt the case.
Walton, who has been a senior judge on the federal level court in Washington, D.C., since 2001, told CNN that he is speaking out because he is concerned about threats against judges.
Even if a threat is made against you or your family, Walton said, “you have the right to treat everyone who comes to court fairly, regardless of who they are or what they have done. We have an obligation to ensure that they are treated accordingly.”
“But nevertheless, this is very worrying because when judges are being threatened, especially when their families are being threatened, it is an attack on the rule of law. I think that's wrong and it shouldn't happen,” Walton said.
Prosecutors on Thursday cited Mr. Trump's social media posts to “make it clear to the judge that the gag order targets the judge, the district attorney, and the families of those included in the order.” He asked the defendant to “instruct the defendant to immediately stop attacking his family.” .
“The public believes that the court's March 26 order was read correctly to protect families…such protection is fully justified,” prosecutors wrote. He also said several potential witnesses had “already expressed serious concerns” about their safety and that of their families.
Trump's lawyers argued Friday that “'clarifying or confirming' the meaning of the gag order in the manner suggested by the public would be an expansion of the gag order.”
Trump's lawyers have said they hope to file legal briefs challenging any expansion. The letter was made public on Friday.
Mr. Trump's historic criminal trial will begin with jury selection on April 15, after Marchan initially pushed back the start date due to a dispute over document production delays. Trump reimbursed then-lawyer Michael Cohen for hush money he paid adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to prevent her from going public with allegations of an affair with Trump. He has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records stemming from the incident. The former president has maintained his innocence and denied that he had an extramarital affair.
This story has been updated with additional details and background information.
CNN's Caitlin Polantz and Kara Scannell contributed to this report.
