Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are pushing back against federal prosecutors’ efforts to streamline arguments and potential appeals in his 2020 election interference case. They argue that this could improperly influence the 2024 White House race. In response to special counsel Jack Smith’s plan to file an oversized brief on whether Trump’s actions were official or unofficial acts, Trump’s lawyers contend that this is improper and should not be allowed. They believe that such a filing could impact national elections and criticize it as a “false hit piece.”
On the other hand, prosecutors argue that the filing is necessary to address Supreme Court concerns about presidential immunity issues while limiting possible appeals. The defense team urges U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to reject the proposed 180-page brief, calling it a premature and biased report. They accuse prosecutors of improperly airing their grievances and attempting to influence the case in favor of their narrative. It remains unclear how much of the motion will be made public if allowed by the judge.
Trump faces charges related to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruction of official proceedings in his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. He has pleaded not guilty, claiming the indictment is politically motivated. The trial, originally set for March, was delayed after Supreme Court rulings on presidential immunity. No trial date has been set yet as the case remains pending.
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