Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) is introducing the “Let Trump Speak Act” on Thursday in response to gag orders issued to former President Donald Trump in his hush money trial.
The act will “prohibit judges from issuing gag orders in certain circumstances” but will allow gag orders in “disclosure of confidential information provided in discovery, to protect the privacy of minors, or as part of a plea agreement.”
The bill would allow eligible defendants to “commence a civil action seeking injunctive relief in the appropriate United States district court.” But the legislation also noted that it may not be “construed as limiting a judge’s authority to issue orders to officers of the court.”
“We have watched for years as a politically weaponized Department of Justice and Democrat activist judges have gone after President Donald J. Trump,” he told Fox News. “There is no right more sacred to Americans than the right to speak freely, as guaranteed in the First Amendment.”
Ogles added that “activists within the justice system are attempting to strip President Trump of this right for the sake of their own political agenda.”
The Tennessee Republican has been a vocal supporter of Trump and appeared with him at his trial on Thursday.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who co-sponsored the bill with nine other Republicans, said, “We have seen how our institutions have gone after President Trump to try and forcibly silence him.”
Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), another co-sponsor, said this “continued weaponization of justice and harassment of President Trump must end.”
Other co-sponsors include Reps. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Mary Miller (R-IL), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Eric Burlison (R-MO), and Eli Crane (R-AZ).
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The bill could pass the Republican-led House but is unlikely to go through the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Trump has repeatedly condemned the gag orders in his case and has been found in contempt for violating them.
