[UPDATE] Former President Donald Trump and his legal team demand Special Counsel Jack Smith and his fellow prosecutors in contempt of court after repeated violations of the court’s order to suspend any activity related to the case.
Attorneys Todd Blanche and John Lauro submitted a 15-page motion highlighting Smith’s violation of the Stay order, wherein he continued to submit filings to Judge Chutkan.
According to an order from Judge Chutkan in December, “any further proceedings that would move this case towards trial or impose additional burdens of litigation on the defendant” would be halted while the question of whether Trump enjoys immunity from the charges against him is decided.
Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign spokesman said, “President Trump has filed a powerhouse motion to hold Crooked Joe Biden’s henchman, Deranged Jack Smith, in contempt of Court for repeatedly violating the stay order in the Washington DC J6 Witch Hunt.”
“Rather than respect the rule of law, Jack Smith unilaterally decided to disobey the stay order and continue with his harassing litigation,” he added.
“No prosecutor is above the law.”
The motion also seeks the court to “show cause” why prosecutors haven’t been held in contempt despite repeated violations or why they should not face “monetary sanctions.”
Trump’s lawyers further said, “The prosecutors repeatedly engaged in that exact conduct, disobeying the Stay Order at least three times in just two weeks.”
In the motion, Lauro emphasized that the prosecutors continued to furnish roughly 4,000 pages of allegedly “additional discovery” on December 17, 2023, and then released an exhibit list the following day.
“The stay order is clear, straightforward, and unambiguous.” slammed Trump’s attorneys.
“All substantive proceedings in this court are halted. Despite this clarity, the prosecutors began violating the stay almost immediately.”
The trial on Trump’s 2020 election case is tentatively set to start on March 4.
[ORIGINAL STORY] Former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election case in Washington will temporarily be on hold while Trump’s legal team focuses on pursuing his claim that he is immune from prosecution.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled in a three-page order to freeze “further proceedings that would move this case towards trial or impose additional burdens of litigation on the defendant.”
The judge added that if the case returns to her table, she will “consider at that time whether to retain or continue the dates of any still-future deadlines and proceedings, including the trial scheduled for March 4, 2024.”
