Special Adviser Jack Smith could be headed down a “dangerous path” as prosecutors prepare to file court documents this month that could reveal additional details of federal election sabotage charges against the former president. Donald TrumpAccording to an analyst.
Trump’s case Thursday took a big leap After US District Judge Chutak asked Smith’s requested timeline for the pre-trial hearing follows an amended Justice Department indictment filed against Trump last week.
As part of the schedule, Smith was ordered to turn over evidence in the case to Trump’s defense team by Sept. 10 — the same day the former president’s first hearing against the vice president. Kamala Harris. Smith was also given until Sept. 26 to file a legal brief that could include new details about the allegations against Trump in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. That filing comes less than six weeks before voters go to the polls on Election Day, as Trump seeks another term in office.
Some experts including CNN Senior legal analyst Eli Honig speculated that the preliminary brief may contain additional information about Trump’s pressure on the then-vice president. Mike Pence Refusal to certify electoral votes on January 6, 2021, including Pence Testimony behind closed doors Before a grand jury in the spring.
Honig told CNN’s Caitlan Collins Thursday night that Smith and Chutkan are “going down a very dangerous path,” adding, “It’s clear that prosecutors believe they can still present evidence of what Donald Trump said to pressure Mike Pence. is, and the judge is clearly with them on it.”
Honig noted that, however, in Supreme CourtIn a July ruling on presidential immunity, the justices said Trump’s conversations with Pence “were potentially immune, which means the Supreme Court has already said, ‘We are strongly against giving evidence of what Mike Pence said.'”
“So if Judge Chutkan ultimately sides with the prosecutors and says, ‘Go ahead you can introduce Mike Pence evidence at trial,’ there’s a very good chance the Supreme Court will reverse that,” Honig said.
When reached by NewsweekA spokesman for Smith’s team declined to comment on Honig’s statements.
Smith’s Amended charge Reflects the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling, including removing allegations that Trump tried to use the Justice Department’s power to undo his damage to the president. Joe Biden. Trump’s team has argued, however, that the indictment was not sufficiently prepared, and that prosecutors should not be allowed to use the allegations surrounding Trump’s conversation with Pence.
“We can deal with an illegal charge from the get-go,” Trump’s lawyer John Lauro told Chutak during Thursday’s hearing.
Lauro also pushed for a pre-trial schedule, given Trump’s re-election bid, arguing to the judge that “the process is inherently unfair, especially during this sensitive time that we’re in.”
“This court is not concerned with the election schedule,” Chutkan responded to Lauro, according to an Associated Press report.
The judge also resisted Lauro’s accusations that prosecutors were pushing for a “rush to judgment” in the case.
“We all know—we all know—that whatever my ruling on immunity is, it will be appealed. And taking that appeal will stall the case again,” Chutkan replied. “So, no one here is under the illusion that we are rushing to a specific trial date.”
Trump has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges in the indictment, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of official proceedings to certify the results of the 2020 election, and conspiracy against the rights of American voters to have their votes counted.
Newsweek Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, was reached for comment by email Thursday.
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