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."

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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