Trump’s Jan. 6 Case Moves Ahead with Judge Laying Ground Rules for Handling Evidence in Mixed Ruling

She brushed aside concerns from Trump's attorneys that any requirements tied to his criminal case would hamstring his ability to mount a 2024 presidential campaign. The judge's order resolves a controversy between Trump's attorneys and Special Counsel Jack Smith's prosecutors over the scope of a protective order, which restricts the sharing of evidence before trial. 'Contempt Trap'Prosecutors countered that Trump wants to try the case in the media, rather than in court. Trump's legal team countered that, without more specificity, the protective order would amount to a "contempt trap." Violations of a protective order could be punished by contempt of court, which could theoretically lead to jail.