Jack Smith Accuses Trump Of Influencing Jury Pool In Election Subversion Case: 'Would Grind Litigation In This Case To A Halt'

Special counsel Jack Smith has accused former President Donald Trump of making statements that could potentially sway the jury’s decision in the 2020 election subversion case,

What Happened: Smith, in a court report filed on Tuesday, claimed that Trump’s “daily extrajudicial statements” could prejudice the jury pool at the Washington courthouse, CNN reported.

The prosecutors and Trump’s legal team are in a tug-of-war over the extent to which the sealed dispute should be disclosed.

Trump’s team insisted on a 14-day response period before any filings are made public, a request contested by Smith’s team who argued it could stall the litigation process.

"Such a requirement would grind litigation in this case to a halt, which is particularly infeasible given the pressing matters before the Court — including the defendant's daily extrajudicial statements that threaten to prejudice the jury pool in this case, as described in the Government's motion."

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U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has asked both parties to submit more legal briefs regarding the Smith submission. A brief from Trump is expected on Sept. 11, with a reply from the prosecutors due on Sept. 13.

Why It Matters: This news follows a series of incidents where Trump has shown defiance towards legal proceedings. Last month, Trump struck a threatening tone following charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. He also refused to pledge compliance with Judge Chutkan’s order in a Jan. 6 case.

Meanwhile, Trump’s eligibility to run for the presidency in 2024 is currently being debated, with some legal authorities suggesting he could be barred due to section 3 of the 14th Amendment. This provision prohibits anyone from holding federal office if they engage in an insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution after pledging support to it.

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