Trump's Intimidation Tactics 'Risky Business' And May Expedite Trial, Says Ex-DOJ Staffer: 'He's Playing With Fire'

Donald Trump's loud-mouthed comments and his stinging attacks on his opponents and judges have now been well documented. A former Department of Justice official cautioned that the ex-president may not eternally get away with this tactic.

What Happened: In the past, Trump has been very aggressive going after everyone, including political enemies, the media and citizens, said Tom Dupree, former principal deputy assistant attorney general, in an interview with CNN.

“They can cause people to change their behavior. They can silence people," he said. Dupree, who served under George W. Bush, said, "But it’s a different world now when you’re in court.”

“It’s one thing to make those comments in the context of a political campaign or the political fray,” the DOJ veteran said, adding, “It’s another thing to make it when you are a criminal defendant and you are making comments about witnesses who are poised to testify against you.”

Dupree also weighed on the possibility of the U.S. District of Columbia Judge, Tanya Chutkan, speeding up the trial in the wake of Trump's inflammatory statements.

“Absolutely! I mean if she thinks that their witnesses out there who are getting scared or intimidated from testifying because of these comments, she may say, look, we need to move this thing up, let’s move it up a few months.”

Calling Trump's strategy a risky business, Dupree said, “I mean he’s playing with fire to some extent making his comments because I don’t think this is a judge who’s going to stand for a while this stuff.”

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Why It’s Important: Trump is facing four criminal indictments in federal as well as state courts and the D.C. case accuses him of maneuvering to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Earlier this week, Trump’s lawyers filed a motion seeking disqualification of Chutkan from the case, citing doubts regarding her impartiality. They noted statements she made while sentencing two people for their roles in the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots.

Trump is running for getting Republican presidential nomination for the 2024 general elections and despite the legal challenges, opinion polls point to the former president having a commanding lead in a crowded GOP field.

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