Defense attorneys for former President Donald Trump are opposing federal prosecutors’ efforts to streamline arguments and potential appeals in his 2020 election interference case. The prosecutors, led by special counsel Jack Smith, plan to file an oversized brief addressing whether certain actions by Trump during his presidency were official or unofficial. Trump’s lawyers argue that this could improperly influence the 2024 presidential race and should not be allowed. They are urging U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to reject the proposed 180-page brief, calling it a premature and biased report. The prosecutors defend their filing as necessary to address concerns about presidential immunity and limit potential appeals. Smith’s office declined to comment on the matter.
Trump is facing charges including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruction of an official proceeding related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. He has pleaded not guilty and claims the indictment is politically motivated. The trial was initially set for March but was delayed after Trump’s lawyers argued for presidential immunity. The Supreme Court ruled in July that some of his actions were protected by immunity, leading to a reassessment by Judge Chutkan of whether other actions were official or unofficial. No trial date has been scheduled yet.
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