'Let's tone this down': Trump lawyer admonished by Judge Chutkan after 'thug' comment

One of Donald Trump's attorneys who was attempting to keep Judge Tanya Chutkan from expanding a gag order is reportedly not scoring any points with the judge and had to be admonished on Monday.

According to the Guardian's Hugo Lowell attorney John Lauro was pressed by the judge to explain the reasoning behind the former president labeling special counsel Jack Smith a "thug" and Lauro replied with a snippy answer that resulted in a warning.

As Lowell, who was sitting the gallery, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Judge Chutkan asks Trump lawyer John Lauro why Trump has to call prosecutor a 'thug' to advance point that this politically motivated? Lauro says what are you supposed to do in face of oppression? Chutkan: 'let's tone this down' Lauro: 'If your honor wants to censor my speech'."

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That was not the only confrontation Lowell reported.

He later added, "Judge Chutkan now grilling Trump lawyer John Lauro on hypothetical statements she's drawn up. Q4 was if 'Bill Barr is a slimy liar' -- should Trump be permitted to post that? Lauro says 'not going to say truth is a defense' but adds he is public fig and won't be intimidated."

Prior to ordering a brief recess, Lowell reported Chutkan said of a gag order against Trump: "I'm not confident that without some sort of restriction, we'll be in here all the time"