Breaking Judge Chutkan orders Slobby's lawyers to respond to Jack Smith's request for a protective

[Ocelot II]

5. The protective order request was pro forma and was already in the works

even before TFG indulged in another fit of stochastic terrorism on his fake Xitter account. Its purpose is to make sure that certain of the discovery materials the prosecutors are about to turn over to TFG and his lawyers are not released to the public, since they would include, among other things, the names and statements of witnesses. TFG's latest threat was included at the last minute - since he did it only hours before the protective order motion was filed - to emphasize the seriousness of the request and the possibility of witness intimidation that TFG's post suggests. The motion does not include a request that the court order sanctions or change the terms of TFG's release (the judge could do that on her own), since that would require additional briefing and an argument as to why the post constitutes a violation of the magistrate's warning, and what should be done about it. That could come later, of course, especially if he does it again; and TFG's lawyers are required to respond to the prosecution's motion. For now, though, unless the judge decides to do it on her own, TFG is not going to be dragged to jail like people keep saying. It doesn't work that way.