Former President Trump’s Lawyers Want Special Counsel Jack Smith Held In Contempt In 2020 Election Interference Case
January 4, 2024 9:14AM AKST
FILE - Special counsel Jack Smith speaks about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, at a Department of Justice office in Washington. Federal prosecutors in the case charging Trump with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election are seeking an order that would restrict the former president from “inflammatory” and “intimidating” comments about witnesses, lawyers and the judge. Smith's team said in a motion filed Friday, Sept. 15, that such a “narrow, well-defined” order was necessary to preserve the integrity of the case and to avoid prejudicing potential jurors. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s lawyers are pressing to have special counsel Jack Smith’s team held in contempt.
The Republican former president’s lawyers said Thursday prosecutors have taken steps to advance the 2020 election interference case against him in violation of a judge’s order that put the case on hold.
The attorneys told U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., she should consider holding Smith and two of his prosecutors in contempt.
A spokesman for Smith has declined to comment.
Prosecutors have acknowledged the deadlines in the case are on hold pending an appeal.
But prosecutors say they’d continue meeting the deadlines to ensure the prompt resumption of the case once it’s returned to the court.
