The campaign of ex-President Donald Trump has submitted a motion to declare special counsel Jack Smith in contempt of court due to his ongoing investigation into the 2020 election interference case. The campaign contends that Smith’s conduct shows a clear disrespect for the stay order issued by Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the case.
The filing points out that Chutkan had ordered a halt to any further proceedings while Trump’s appeal regarding presidential immunity was being considered. According to the Associated Press, the appeal automatically stays any progress in the case until a decision is reached by the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals.
Smith had attempted to expedite the appeal by seeking the intervention of the U.S. Supreme Court, but the request was denied. Despite this setback, the D.C. Circuit Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Tuesday and has indicated its intention to move swiftly.
However, Trump’s legal team claims that Smith’s office completely disregards the court’s instructions. Despite the stay order, they argue that the prosecutors have continued to serve Trump with additional discovery, including hundreds of video and audio recordings. Trump’s filing accuses Smith’s office of seeking to score political points against Trump on behalf of the Biden campaign.
The former president’s lawyers are requesting that all of Smith’s discovery requests be withdrawn and that prosecutors be required to seek permission from the court before submitting any further filings. They also suggest that sanctions should be considered, such as removing prosecutors from the case or dismissing the prosecution against Trump.
In addition, Trump’s legal team calls for monetary sanctions on Smith’s office to cover the reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in responding to the prosecutors’ improper actions.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign, Steven Cheung, stated that they are seeking to hold Jack Smith in contempt of court for repeatedly violating the stay order in what he refers to as the “Washington DC J6 Witch Hunt.” Cheung argues that Smith’s actions attempt to interfere in the election and continue the Biden campaign’s corrupt narrative.
Conversely, the prosecutors are determined to keep the case on track for a trial on March 4. They have acknowledged the pause in proceedings but maintain that they will meet all deadlines established by the court once the case resumes.
The battle between Trump’s campaign and special counsel Jack Smith continues, with both sides firmly entrenched in their positions. As the case proceeds, it remains to be seen how the court will respond to the campaign’s motion and whether any sanctions will be imposed on Smith’s office.
