Special Counsel Jack Smith has submitted evidence in the January 6 case as part of his latest legal move against former President Donald Trump, with just 40 days left until the 2024 presidential election.
This new development puts further pressure on Trump, as the evidence could potentially influence public perception ahead of the election.
Smith filed the evidence with U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will decide whether or not to release the filing to the public.
Trump’s legal team is expected to object to the release, as they have done with previous filings from the Special Counsel.
Although the size of this latest submission hasn’t been disclosed, it comes after Judge Chutkan granted Jack Smith’s request to submit a 180-page opening brief in the January 6 case.
This filing is seen as a significant move by the Special Counsel, as it exceeds the usual page limits for such documents and has been characterized by Trump’s team as an attempt to release what they describe as a “hit piece” on Trump.
Smith’s goal appears to be to challenge Trump’s claims of presidential immunity, which the Supreme Court is expected to rule on soon.
Trump’s legal team has strongly opposed Smith’s request to file the lengthy brief, noting that it is four times the normal page limit in Washington, D.C.’s courts. In a 9-page filing,
Trump’s attorneys argued that Smith’s approach is “unprecedented and irregular,” and that it violates standard court procedures.
They also criticized the Special Counsel’s office for failing to provide legal precedents to support such an extensive filing.
Trump’s lawyers are pushing for the judge to deny Smith’s request, claiming it is an excessive and unnecessary move.
Given the timing and the contentious nature of the case, Smith’s strategy appears to be an attempt to sway public opinion before the trial, especially since it is unlikely that the trial will take place before the election.
The release of such a lengthy brief, if approved by Judge Chutkan, could provide significant insights into the Special Counsel’s arguments against Trump, potentially affecting the political landscape as voters head to the polls.
As the legal battle over the January 6 case continues, all eyes are on Judge Chutkan’s next move and the potential implications it could have for Trump’s campaign and the upcoming election.
CNN reported:
Filings from special counsel Jack Smith laying out never-before-seen evidence in the election subversion case against Donald Trump – including interview transcripts and notes from an investigation that counted among its witnesses former Vice President Mike Pence, Ivanka Trump and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows – are now in the hands of a federal court.
It will now be up to District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine how much of that evidence the public gets to see and when they will be able to see it.
Prosecutors filed the documents under seal as of 4:40 p.m. ET, according to Peter Carr, the special counsel office’s spokesman.
