Hi everybody it's 4 o'clock in New York I'm Ali Velshi in for Nicole

Wallace it does not take a fancy degree in legal procedure or any fluency

in legalese to understand what's at the core of today's development because all it is is a simple

question.

Should Donald Trump be treated like the rest of us or does his position as

idle of the MAGA movement preclude him from something so silly as the law?

You can guess the answer as lawyers are hoping for today requesting a hearing in front of

the full United States Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C.

Specifically, they are now asking the Court to narrow

or throw out the gag order imposed on Trump in the criminal case having to do with his

efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and they'd like a

hold on the order while an appeal is considered.

You'll remember, trial judge Tanya Chutkin first imposed that restriction on Trump back in October, holding him to the same standards

as any other criminal defendant, that he shouldn't publicly attack witnesses, specific prosecutors,

or court staff members.

Two weeks ago, a three-judge panel upheld that basic idea, although it narrowed the order's

scope, allowing Trump a bit more latitude, particularly to talk about the special

prosecutor himself, Jack Smith.

The judges found, quote, some aspects of Mr. Trump's public statements pose a significant and imminent threat to the fair

and orderly adjudication of the ongoing criminal proceeding end quote and while they

agreed that there was a quote strong public interest in Trump's public comments by virtue of his

position they said quote mr. Trump is also an indicted criminal defendant and he

...