US prosecutors flag Trump's sinister social media post in show of persisting defiance
US prosecutors have flagged a threatening social media post publicly shared by former president Donald Trump as part of their ongoing investigation into his efforts to retain power following his electoral defeat to current President Joe Biden.
On his so-called Truth Social site, Trump threatened on Friday, "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!" prompting prosecutors to argue that the post suggests he might intimidate witnesses by improperly disclosing confidential evidence received from the government.
The post was published a day after he pleaded not guilty to charges that he orchestrated a criminal conspiracy in attempts to try to reverse his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
In the filing in Washington federal court, the office of Special Counsel Jack Smith said Trump's post raised concerns that he might publicly reveal secret material, such as grand jury transcripts, obtained from prosecutors.
"It could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case," prosecutors wrote, noting that Trump has a history of attacking judges, attorneys and witnesses in other cases against him.
The development came after Trump swore at his arraignment on Thursday not to intimidate witnesses or communicate with them without legal counsel present, .
A Trump spokesperson issued a statement defending the former president's social media post, saying: "The Truth post cited is the definition of political speech, and was in response to the Rino, China-loving, dishonest special interest groups and super PAC's."
Trump was indicted on Tuesday over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election -- the most serious legal threat yet to the former president as he campaigns to return to the White House.
The new charges raised the prospect of Trump being embroiled in more legal proceedings at the height of what is expected to be a bitter and divisive presidential campaign.
Trump is also accused in the 45-page indictment handed down by a grand jury in Washington of seeking to disenfranchise American voters with his false claims that he won the November 2020 presidential election.
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