Conway on how special counsel gag order puts judge on the spot in Trump classified documents case

CNN
24 May 202407:57

Summary

TLDRSpecial Counsel Jack Smith has requested a gag order against former President Donald Trump, alleging his 'false and inflammatory' statements endangered law enforcement officers involved in the classified documents case. Trump's claims that agents were authorized to assassinate him during the search warrant execution at Mar-a-Lago have been refuted by the DOJ's standard deadly use of force policy, which applies uniformly across operations. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and legal analyst George Conway discuss the implications, emphasizing the potential danger to agents and the integrity of the legal proceedings.

Takeaways

  • 📜 The special counsel, Jack Smith, has requested a gag order on former President Donald Trump due to his 'false and inflammatory statements' regarding the execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago.
  • 👮‍♂️ The Department of Justice's deadly use of force policy was misrepresented by Trump, who suggested that law enforcement agents were authorized to assassinate him, which is a standard policy for executing search warrants.
  • 🚨 Jack Smith argues that Trump's comments have endangered law enforcement officers involved in the case and threaten the integrity of the proceedings.
  • 🆕 This is an unprecedented step by Jack Smith, who has not taken such an action before.
  • 👨‍✈️ Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe explains that the operations plan for executing search and arrest warrants includes a standard section on the use of lethal force, which is not specific to the Trump case.
  • 🚔 The lethal force policy is to ensure agents understand they are only authorized to use it to protect their lives or others, not as an intent or direction for the operation.
  • 💔 Trump's fundraising off the situation and his inflammatory claims are seen as putting agents and their supporters in mortal danger by inflaming his base.
  • 🔥 The special counsel's move is viewed as necessary to potentially protect agents from harm and to restrain Trump's dangerous rhetoric.
  • 🤔 George Conway, a critic of Trump, emphasizes the stark contrast between Trump's self-declared 'law and order' president image and his attacks on the FBI and law enforcement officers.
  • 👩‍⚖️ Judge Eileen Cannon is now under pressure to act on the motion, as her previous bias against the government is highlighted, and inaction could lead to attempts to remove her from the case.
  • 📧 The Trump campaign's email to supporters, claiming he nearly escaped death, is seen as an attempt to incite violence against government agents based on a lie and misreading of a standard document.

Q & A

  • What is the main issue discussed in the breaking news?

    -The main issue is the request by special counsel Jack Smith for a gag order on former President Donald Trump due to his alleged false and inflammatory statements regarding the execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago.

  • What is the context of the search warrant executed at Mar-a-Lago?

    -The search warrant was executed as part of an investigation into classified documents, and it included a standard deadly use of force policy, which is a typical part of such operations.

  • Why is the special counsel concerned about Trump's statements?

    -The special counsel is concerned that Trump's comments have endangered law enforcement officers involved in the case and threaten the integrity of the proceedings.

  • What is the role of the former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe in this discussion?

    -Andrew McCabe provides expert insight into the FBI's operations plan and the lethal force policy, explaining their purpose and the context in which they are used.

  • How does the lethal force policy relate to the execution of search warrants?

    -The lethal force policy outlines the legal limits on how agents can use lethal force during their duties, ensuring they are only authorized to use it to protect their life or the life of someone else.

  • What is the significance of the operations plan mentioned by Andrew McCabe?

    -The operations plan is a required document for every search and arrest warrant execution by the FBI, detailing the logistics of the operation and ensuring all agents understand their roles and the limits of using lethal force.

  • How does Trump's fundraising off of this situation affect the perception of the FBI?

    -Trump's fundraising efforts, which include claims that the FBI was authorized to shoot him, can inflame his supporters and potentially put the agents and those who support them in mortal danger.

  • What is the potential consequence of Trump's statements for law enforcement officers?

    -The potential consequence is that some of Trump's supporters may take action based on his misleading statements, which could lead to violence against law enforcement officers.

  • What does George Conway suggest about the impact of Trump's email campaign?

    -George Conway suggests that the email campaign, which falsely claims that Trump nearly escaped death, could incite violence from his supporters against government agents.

  • What is the role of Judge Eileen Cannon in this situation?

    -Judge Eileen Cannon is the presiding judge who is being asked to place a gag order on Trump, and her decision could have significant implications for the case and the safety of law enforcement officers.

  • What is the potential impact of this situation on the legal system?

    -The situation could be seen as an attack on the legal system, as it involves the intentional misreading of a standard document and the incitement of violence against government agents based on false claims.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Special Counsel Seeks Gag Order on Trump's Statements

The script discusses a significant development in the Trump classified documents case where Special Counsel Jack Smith and prosecutors are requesting a gag order against former President Donald Trump. This follows Trump's alleged 'false and inflammatory statements' suggesting that law enforcement agents were authorized to assassinate him during the execution of a search warrant at his residence, Mar-a-Lago. The script highlights that the 'deadly use of force policy' mentioned by Trump was standard and also applied during a similar search at President Biden's home. The concern is that Trump's comments could endanger law enforcement officers and compromise the case's integrity. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe explains the context of the operations plan and the lethal force policy, emphasizing that it is a standard part of FBI operations to ensure agents understand the limits of using lethal force. The conversation also touches on Trump's fundraising efforts based on these statements, which critics argue puts law enforcement in danger and incites his supporters.

05:02

🚨 Trump's Misleading Campaign Email and Judge Cannon's Dilemma

This paragraph delves into the implications of a campaign email sent by Trump, claiming he 'nearly escaped death' and accusing the government of attempting to assassinate him. The email is seen as an attack on the legal system and a potential incitement of violence against government agents. The script points out the risk of such messages being sent to millions of people, with the possibility that even a few could act on these misleading statements. The discussion also brings attention to Judge Eileen Cannon, who has shown bias against the government and is now under pressure to act on the motion for a gag order. The speakers suggest that if she fails to respond appropriately, it could lead to an attempt to have her removed from the case by the 11th Circuit. The paragraph concludes with strong criticism of Trump's actions, describing them as a 'pathological lie' and an 'intentional misreading' of a standard document, and expressing concern over the moral implications of such behavior.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Gag Order

A gag order is a legal order issued by a judge to prohibit parties in a legal case from communicating with the public about the case. In the video's context, the special counsel and prosecutors are asking Judge Eileen Cannon to place a gag order on former President Donald Trump due to his 'false and inflammatory statements', which they argue endanger law enforcement officers and threaten the integrity of the proceedings.

💡Special Counsel Jack Smith

Special Counsel Jack Smith is a legal professional appointed to oversee a particular case. In this video, he is taking the extraordinary step of requesting a gag order against Trump, indicating the severity of the situation and the perceived threat to the legal process and law enforcement officers involved in the classified documents case.

💡Classified Documents Case

The classified documents case refers to the legal investigation concerning the handling of classified documents. In the script, it is mentioned that law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, which is related to the classified documents case involving former President Trump.

💡Deadly Use of Force Policy

The deadly use of force policy is a standard policy within law enforcement agencies that outlines when and how officers are authorized to use lethal force. The script discusses this policy in relation to the search warrant executed at Mar-a-Lago, emphasizing that it is a standard part of operations plans and not an indication of intent to harm.

💡Attorney General Merrick Garland

Attorney General Merrick Garland is the head of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). In the video, he is noted to have reminded everyone about the deadly use of force policy during a questioning session, indicating his role in clarifying the legal context of the policy and its application in the case.

💡Former President Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump is the central figure in the video's narrative, as he is the subject of the classified documents case and the proposed gag order. His statements are described as 'false and inflammatory,' and there is a discussion about the potential danger they pose to law enforcement and the legal process.

💡Law Enforcement Agents

Law enforcement agents are individuals who work within agencies responsible for enforcing the law. In the script, these agents are portrayed as being endangered by Trump's comments, which is a key reason why the special counsel is seeking a gag order.

💡FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe

Andrew McCabe, a former FBI deputy director, provides expert commentary in the video. His insights help to explain the context and implications of the deadly use of force policy and the operations plan, as well as the potential dangers posed by Trump's statements to law enforcement.

💡Operations Plan

An operations plan is a detailed strategy outlining the steps and logistics for executing a specific operation, such as a search warrant. In the video, McCabe explains that the deadly use of force policy is part of the standard operations plan for FBI agents, emphasizing its importance for ensuring agent safety and legal compliance.

💡Inflammatory Statements

Inflammatory statements are remarks intended to provoke strong reactions or incite anger. The video discusses Trump's statements as being particularly inflammatory, suggesting that they could lead to violence against law enforcement officers and undermine the legal proceedings.

💡Legal Integrity

Legal integrity refers to the maintenance of fairness, honesty, and adherence to the law within legal proceedings. The video script mentions that Trump's comments threaten the integrity of the proceedings, indicating the potential for his statements to disrupt the legal process and compromise its fairness.

Highlights

Special Counsel Jack Smith and prosecutors request a gag order on former President Donald Trump for his false and inflammatory statements regarding the execution of a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump's statements suggested law enforcement agents were authorized to assassinate him, which Smith argues endangers officers and threatens the integrity of the proceedings.

Attorney General Merrick Garland reminded everyone of the standard deadly use of force policy, which was the same when searching President Biden's home.

Andrew McCabe, former FBI deputy director, explains the operations plan required for every FBI operation, including the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago.

The deadly use of force policy is a standard part of the FBI's operations plan to ensure agents understand the limits of using lethal force.

Trump's fundraising off the situation, claiming the FBI was authorized to shoot him, is seen as putting agents and supporters in mortal danger.

George Conway discusses the stark contrast between Trump's self-proclaimed law and order stance and his dangerous lies about law enforcement officers.

Conway emphasizes the potential for violence incited by Trump's lies, especially with a large audience receiving his campaign emails.

The motion puts Judge Eileen Cannon in a difficult position, given her perceived bias against the government and slow progress on the case.

If Judge Cannon does not act on the motion, it could provide grounds for the 11th Circuit to remove her from the case.

The email sent by Trump's campaign, claiming he nearly escaped death, is seen as an attempt to incite violence against government agents.

The level of moral depravity surrounding Trump and his team is criticized for sending out such a misleading and dangerous message.

The intentional misreading of the standard document by Trump's campaign is condemned as obscene.

Judge Cannon's decision on the gag order is awaited, with significant implications for the case and the safety of law enforcement officers.

Transcripts

00:00

More now on the breaking news that we are getting in just this hour.

00:02

Tonight, in the Trump classified documents case as Jack Smith,

00:06

the special counsel and prosecutors are asking Judge

00:09

Eileen Cannon in Florida to place a gag order on former President Donald Trump

00:14

in the wake of his, quote, false and inflammatory statements

00:17

suggesting that law enforcement agents were authorized

00:20

to assassinate him when they executed a search warrant at Mar a Lago.

00:24

They had a standard deadly use of force policy.

00:27

They had the exact same one

00:29

when they conducted that search for documents at President Biden's home.

00:32

I should note that is something that Attorney General Merrick

00:34

Garland reminded everyone of this week when he was asked about this.

00:38

Jack Smith in this filing

00:39

tonight is arguing that Trump's comments has endangered law enforcement officers

00:43

involved in this investigation in the prosecution of this case

00:47

and that it threatens the integrity of the proceedings as well.

00:50

This is an extraordinary step by special counsel

00:52

Jack Smith, one that we have not seen him take yet.

00:55

And for more on this,

00:55

I want to bring in the former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe.

00:59

Andrew, let me read you

01:00

part of this filing that we're truly just reading as we're on air right now.

01:04

But Jackson, this team says, you know, they're talking about the implications

01:08

of Trump's comments, and that's echoed by his Republican allies.

01:11

And they say professional law enforcement officers and agents in this country

01:15

put their lives on the line every day and carrying out their duties

01:19

to enforce the law.

01:20

And they're saying that would execute in court or court authorized warrants.

01:23

Those professionals face many uncertainties and potentially grave risks

01:27

and they're saying to minimize that,

01:29

you know, agents here are just planning for all contagion contingencies.

01:33

That is part of their job.

01:34

And that is why you could read

01:36

about that deadly use of force policy in this search warrant.

01:42

That's absolutely right.

01:43

And so this is very important to understand the context.

01:47

This is an operations plan which is required for the execution

01:51

of every search warrant and arrest warrant that FBI agents engage in.

01:55

This is part of the FBI policy.

01:57

And the operations plan includes tons of information, primarily

02:00

for the other agents who are going to take part in that operation.

02:03

It tells them where to go, when to be there,

02:06

who's going to be driving, which vehicles, all sorts of things like that.

02:09

This particular section is required, but it's not.

02:12

It is part of the form.

02:14

Like it's not even something that agents

02:16

have to type in on every plan because it's baked into the form.

02:20

And that is a recitation of the DOJ's authorization

02:24

to use legal force, I'm sorry, lethal force.

02:28

The reason it's

02:29

there is to make sure that every agent who goes out on this operation understands

02:33

the limits of using lethal force, that they're only authorized

02:37

to use it to protect their life or the life of someone else.

02:41

It is not an authorization

02:43

or some sort of statement of intent or direction for the operation.

02:47

It is the legal limit on how

02:50

agents can use lethal force in the course of their duties.

02:54

And it's the same on every single operation.

02:56

I mean, I just wonder what it's like for you to to see these comments that

03:02

Trump's fundraising off of this, saying the FBI was,

03:04

quote, in all caps authorized to shoot me, that they were itching

03:08

to do the unthinkable, that they were, quote, locked and loaded,

03:11

ready to take me out and put my family in danger.

03:17

You know, we've known for a while that there's

03:20

absolutely no limit to the lies and the slander that the former president

03:26

will say and use against the FBI and its people, particularly.

03:30

He has been doing this for years.

03:32

But this actually, for me, reaches an all time low.

03:36

Right.

03:36

He's he is quite literally putting those agents

03:40

and the people who supported them on this mission in mortal danger.

03:44

Right.

03:45

This is a direct effort to inflame his supporters, to inflame his base,

03:50

some of whom not the majority, but some of whom we know.

03:53

Listen to these directions and these lies very carefully

03:58

and then take action based upon what they hear the former president say.

04:03

So I think that the special counsel is doing absolutely the right thing

04:06

and the necessary thing here to try to put some restraint on him

04:11

that will potentially keep these agents from getting harmed.

04:14

I also have George Conway here joining us, Andrew, on this breaking news.

04:18

And I mean, George Conway, obviously, I don't think it's any secret

04:22

to anyone who watching you're not a fan of Donald Trump,

04:24

but for something like this, for someone who declares himself the law

04:29

and order president and talks about how he's there

04:32

to back the blue and attends

04:35

memorial services for officers here in New York, and then to see

04:39

how he's talking about these law enforcement officers

04:41

simply because they work under the umbrella of the FBI

04:44

and how he feels about the FBI is quite remarkable

04:49

when you read how that puts it in these stark terms here in this filing.

04:53

Yeah, And I don't think you I mean, I don't think there are terms

04:56

that are stark enough to describe what Donald Trump has done here.

04:59

I mean, he's a pathological liar. He lies about everything.

05:02

But this lie is just an exceedingly dangerous lie.

05:06

As as as the attorney general and Mr.

05:09

McCabe has pointed out and and it's an attack on the entire system

05:13

of the legal system, as Judge Grasso put it before the break, and to emphasize

05:18

how dramatic this is, this message is going out

05:22

to tens of millions of people who are on the campaign mailing list.

05:27

I have the email right here, the campaign email.

05:31

I nearly escaped death from Donald Trump.

05:35

And again, you know, they're they're they're they're fishing.

05:38

They're they're just itching to do the unthinkable.

05:42

There it is.

05:42

Is is basically accusing the government of trying to take him out.

05:47

And, you know, 10 million people get this email.

05:50

I don't know how many people get this email.

05:51

All it takes is one or two of them to shoot somebody saying he was thinking

05:55

that, hey, I hit the government trying to shoot my president.

05:59

I'm going to I'm going to fight back.

06:01

And that's that's it's it's absolutely appalling.

06:04

I want to point out one other thing about this motion, which is a little kind

06:10

of a lesser aspect of it, but this is this really puts Judge Cannon on the spot.

06:16

Yeah.

06:17

This woman has absolutely, completely shown

06:21

an absolute bias against the government from day one.

06:25

In multiple ways, she's dragging her feet on this case.

06:29

And if she does not do something about this,

06:33

I think that I think the special counsel may use this as the opportunity

06:37

to try to get the 11th Circuit to get rid of her.

06:39

So she's really on the spot here.

06:41

She's actually going to have to.

06:43

Do you think that she'll do something?

06:45

I don't know.

06:46

But she she she better because this is just

06:49

this is just completely outrageous.

06:52

I mean, it is really an attempt to incite violence against government

06:58

agents based on the complete pathological lie and misreading and.

07:04

GROSS I mean, just absolutely obscene

07:09

misreading of a standard document that limits the use of force.

07:13

It's absolutely a the notion that that so many people

07:18

had to participate to send this email and an hour an hour beholden to Trump

07:23

and are doing these things just shows you the level of just

07:26

moral depravity that that that that Trump

07:32

emanates and that surrounds him.

07:35

It's I can't words cannot describe

07:37

that level of depravity to send to send this message out.

07:42

Yeah.

07:43

And I think it's safe to say it's an intentional misreading.

07:46

We'll see what Judge Cannon decides here.

07:48

Obviously, this is now in her hands.

07:50

George Conway, thank you for jumping on this breaking news with us.

07:53

Also to you, Andrew McCabe.

07:54

I really appreciate having both of your perspectives on this tonight.