Hi, everyone. It is 4 o'clock in New York. I'm Ayman Mahidin in for Nicole Wallace.

Special counsel Jack Smith is letting nothing slide in his criminal case against the former

president for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. On Friday night, prosecutors

asked federal judge Tanya Chutkin who is overseeing the case to impose a so-called protective

order, preventing Trump from publicly releasing evidence that would be handed over to his lawyers

in the discovery process, citing recent threats made by Donald Trump and what has become

a years-long practice of threatening anyone who tries to hold him accountable.

Now in their motion for a protective order, the Justice Department says quotes such a

restriction is particularly important in this case because the defendant has previously

issued public statements on social media regarding witnesses, judges, attorneys, and other

associates and legal matters pending against him. And in recent days, regarding this case,

the defendant has issued multiple posts, either specifically or by implication, including

the following, which the defendant posted just hours ago.

If you go after me, I'm coming after you. The filing, including a screenshot of that

ominous threat, prosecutors went on to say that, quote, if the defendant were to begin

issuing public posts using details or, for example, grand jury transcripts obtained

in discover here, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely

affect the fair administration of justice in this case. Now that request by the special

counsel triggered a battle between team Trump and the DOJ. Here's how the New York Times

describes that. First, John F. Laura, one of Mr. Trump's lawyers, filed court papers

to Judge Chutkin asking her to push back the deadline to object to the protective order

until Thursday. Mr. Smith's team shot back, telling Judge Chutkin that the government

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