Federal prosecutors, led by special counsel Jack Smith, have countered former President Donald Trump's claims that they should be held in contempt of court for filing motions while the case against Trump is paused. Trump's legal team has accused the prosecutors of misconduct for continuing to work on the case, which accuses Trump of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, despite a court-ordered stay. The prosecutors argue that their actions do not violate the court's order and are part of their efforts to ensure a speedy trial. The dispute over Trump's claim of immunity and the timing of the case is ongoing, with implications for whether the trial will proceed before the November election or if it will be tried at all, especially if Trump were to regain the presidency.
Donald Trump's legal team is accused of overreaching by trying to have Special Counsel Jack Smith held in contempt for proceeding with an election case during a suspension pending appeal. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, argues for immunity as the alleged actions occurred during his presidency. Despite Trump's team's claims that Smith's office is violating the stay order, former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance believes the judge is unlikely to sanction Smith without a prior warning, viewing the contempt request as an overreach. The outcome of the contempt issue is seen as separate from Trump's guilt in the trial, with the broader case potentially affecting the timing of the federal trial scheduled for March 2024, ahead of the 2024 election.
Michigan Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo, the party’s state committee, and three former Hillsdale County Republican Party members have been ordered to pay over $25,000 for contempt of court. This penalty comes after they failed to comply with a previous court ruling that recognized a different faction as the legitimate leaders of the Hillsdale County Republican Party. Judge Michael Olsaver's April 2023 ruling was disregarded by the "America First" faction, leading to the contempt finding.
Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump are seeking to have special counsel Jack Smith and two deputies held in contempt of court for allegedly violating a freeze on the criminal case related to accusations of Trump's involvement in subverting the 2020 election. The defense team is pushing for sanctions and a portion of Trump's legal fees to be paid, as the case awaits further review by a federal appeals court and potentially the Supreme Court. This development marks an intensification in the legal conflict surrounding the former president's claims of immunity from prosecution.
Former President Donald Trump's legal team has filed a motion to hold Special Counsel Jack Smith in contempt of court, accusing him of violating a stay order in the investigation into Trump's alleged interference in the 2020 election. Trump's attorneys argue that the stay order halts all substantive proceedings, yet claim Smith's team continued legal actions, including serving discovery documents and filing motions. Trump's team contends that Smith's actions are politically motivated and seek to use the court as a tool against Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol riot. The motion requests that Smith withdraw his filings and be sanctioned monetarily for the alleged violations.
