Trump Pressured To Disclose Whether He Plans To Blame His Lawyers In Election Interference Case

Federal prosecutors tracking the case of election interference allegations against former President Donald Trump have asked a judge to mandate Trump to disclose his defense strategy ahead of his trial.

What Happened: As reported in a New York Times article, the prosecutors have requested Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to direct Trump to inform them by December 18 of his intent to use an “advice of counsel defense”. This defense strategy blames the former legal team for providing poor advice.

The prosecutors believe that if Trump intends to use this defense, he should formally declare it by mid-December. This move will not only prevent disruptions to the trial schedule but also give them a strategic advantage. This is because the advice of counsel defense waives the attorney-client privilege, possibly exposing more about the defendant’s interactions with their lawyers.

Trump’s trial, stemming from accusations of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, is slated to begin in March at the Federal District Court in Washington.

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Why It Matters: This development follows an ongoing saga involving Trump and Judge Chutkan. Trump had previously berated her on Truth Social, accusing the judge of running an “election interference”, according to a Benzinga report from August 2023.

Further, a Benzinga article from September quoted a former Department of Justice official warning Trump about the potential risks associated with his intimidation tactics. The official highlighted that such tactics could hasten his trial and that the courtroom was a “different world”.

With the prosecutors’ recent demand, it appears that the stage is set for a high-stakes courtroom battle where Trump’s defense strategy could play a crucial role in determining the case’s outcome.

Photo via Shutterstock

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