Washington, August 12: A federal judge in the United States has issued a warning to former President Donald Trump, urging him to refrain from making "provocative" statements that might impact the jury pool in advance of his 2024 trial for allegedly conspiring to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election.

During a 90-minute hearing held on Friday in Washington D.C., US District Judge Tanya Chuktan underscored that while Trump's rights as a criminal defendant would be safeguarded, his First Amendment right to free speech had limitations that were not absolute, as reported by CNN.

The judge pointed out, "In a criminal case like this, the defendant's freedom of speech is subject to the guidelines. He stands as a criminal defendant, subject to restrictions like any other defendant. The mere fact that the defendant is engaged in a political campaign does not afford him any greater or lesser latitude than any defendant in a criminal case."

Judge Tanya Chuktan concluded the hearing by assuring that the case would progress in a manner consistent with standard procedures in the criminal justice system. However, she cautioned that the more "provocative" statements were made by any party involved, the more swiftly she would be compelled to move towards a trial in order to uphold the fairness of the jury selection process.

She stated, "This is a fundamental principle of the legal process in this nation," and cited legal precedent, "where legal trials differ from elections, as they are not won through rallies, radio, or newspapers," according to CNN's report.

Judge Chuktan underscored that this case was no exception to the rule. The public declarations made by Trump are just one facet of the ongoing confrontations between his legal team and federal prosecutors, as reported by the BBC.

It's worth noting that the former President is already subject to a protective order in a separate forthcoming case in New York, relating to allegations of hush money payments involving former adult film actress Stormy Daniels. His legal team has also agreed to similar conditions in another case linked to alleged mishandling of classified documents.

Having entered a plea of not guilty to four criminal charges tied to his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, Trump was advised by the judge to exercise caution in any public statements that could potentially intimidate witnesses.