Donald Trump’s gag order fight gains legal support from podcaster

A podcaster has joined the fight opposing a possible gag order against former President Donald Trump in his classified documents case in Florida.

On Tuesday, podcaster known as Good Lawgic filed an amicus brief in the United States District Court Southern District of Florida, calling for a judge to not impose a gag order against Trump in his classified documents case.

“Good Lawgic, LLC (“Good Lawgic”) is a media company which covers trial and legal issues on an almost-nightly podcast which has thousands of listeners and followers. Good Lawgic is owned by Jospeh Nierman who hosts the podcast and is an official member of the New York press,” the brief reviewed by Newsweek said.

The brief goes on to state that Good Lawgic has sought media inquiries and interviews with Trump but has been turned down due to the gag order imposed on the former president in his New York criminal trial for hush money payments.

“Good Lawgic anticipates making further media inquiries of President Trump related to this matter as it proceeds which will likewise result in President Trump being compelled to turn down Good Lawgic’s media requests should a Special Counsel Jack Smith‘s gag order request be granted. Such outcome would violated Good Lawgic’s First Amendment Free Press rights under the circumstances and will cause it irreparable harm. It will also violate President Trump’s Sixth Amendment rights,” the brief said.

Trump was indicted by Smith for his alleged mishandling of classified documents that were found at his Mar-a-Lago residence after leaving office as president.

Smith previously insisted that the judge impose a gag order on Trump, arguing that it is a necessary measure to protect law enforcement agents from the “significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger” that comes from the former president’s public remarks. The initial request came days after Trump claimed that the FBI used “DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE” while raiding Mar-a-Lago in August 2022.

Earlier this week, America First Legal (AFL), composed of people including Stephen Miller, Trump’s former senior adviser and AFL president, and former U.S. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, filed an amicus brief opposing a requested gag order from Smith. The brief, filed in the Southern District of Florida, seeks to “defend President Donald J. Trump’s constitutionally protected right to free speech and prevent Special Counsel Jack Smith from obtaining an unlawful gag order.”

In a statement to Newsweek on Tuesday, lawyers for Good Lawgic said, “We are enthused to have the opportunity to stand up and defend the most cherished of American rights, including freedom of the press and the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial.”

“In this case, these rights go hand in hand, as the Special Counsel’s motion for a gag order would violate basic press freedoms to the availability of a criminal defendant, who also may be the most newsworthy person in the world, for comment on matters which are critical to the public’s understanding of the criminal case brought against the defendant, President Trump, by an agent of the opposition political party,” the statement said, adding that Good Lawgic plans to continue to report on the case and “will not back down in a fight to protect the rights of the free press under the First Amendment and, relatedly, the rights of a criminal defendant to a fair trial.”

Newsweek reached out to Trump’s spokesperson via email for comment.