Trump Deals Major Blow To Jack Smith
In a recent legal development, attorneys representing former President Donald Trump have submitted a robust motion, characterizing it as a “powerhouse,” urging a federal judge to hold Special Counsel Jack Smith in contempt of court. The motion alleges that Smith has repeatedly violated a stay order issued in connection with his investigation into the 2020 election. The case against Trump, who is currently the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination, is temporarily halted as Trump’s legal team appeals the case, contending that presidential immunity shields him from prosecution. Originally scheduled to commence on March 4, the trial is currently on hold.
Trump’s attorney, John Lauro, emphasized the clarity of the stay order, asserting that all substantive proceedings are unequivocally halted. Despite this, Lauro claims that Smith’s team violated the order by serving thousands of pages of additional discovery and a purported draft exhibit list within the initial five days of the pause. Trump, through his counsel, reportedly rejected these actions, notifying the prosecutors that their conduct violated the stay order.
Lauro further contends that Smith filed an extensive motion in limine less than 10 days later, filled with partisan rhetoric, including false claims that Trump “propagates irrelevant disinformation” both inside and outside the courtroom. The motion allegedly aligns with the Biden administration’s talking points and falsely attributes responsibility to Trump for the events of January 6, 2021.
Accusing the prosecutors of seeking to weaponize the stay order for political propaganda, Lauro argues that Smith and federal prosecutors should be held in contempt of court. He calls for the immediate withdrawal of their motion in limine and “improper” productions, along with a prohibition on submitting further filings during the stay. Lauro also suggests the assessment of monetary sanctions to cover Trump’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in responding to the alleged misconduct.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign, Steven Cheung, conveyed that Trump is seeking to hold Smith in contempt of court for repeatedly violating the stay order in what he describes as the “Washington DC J6 Witch Hunt.” Cheung contends that Smith’s actions are an attempt to perpetuate the Biden campaign’s corrupt talking points, emphasizing that no prosecutor is above the law.
It is worth noting that Trump faces federal charges related to Smith’s investigation into 2020 election interference and the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Despite Trump’s plea of not guilty in August, the legal battle continues, with Smith disputing Trump’s claim to presidential immunity in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected Smith’s appeal to expedite the assessment of the immunity claim, and Trump’s legal team has urged the court to deny Smith’s request.
