CNN legal analyst Elie Honig expressed surprise when informed that his commentary regarding Special Counsel Jack Smith had been cited by Donald Trump’s legal team in their emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, as reported by Fox News on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
In a CNN segment on Monday night, Honig was caught off guard when asked about being quoted in the brief. “I’m learning that right now,” Honig admitted before remarking, “I fear what they quoted me on.”
Host Kaitlan Collins revealed that Honig was quoted in a footnote, referencing his observation of Jack Smith. The footnote cited Honig’s remark that Jack Smith ‘never uses the E word’ [Election].
As a former federal prosecutor, Honig has been critical of Smith’s handling of the case against Trump, questioning the alleged political motivations behind Smith’s actions. He has consistently voiced skepticism regarding the impartiality of Smith’s approach and his refusal to acknowledge the influence of the upcoming election on the timing of the trial.
Reflecting on his previous statements, Honig reiterated his doubts about Smith’s intentions, emphasizing the urgency conveyed by the special counsel’s expedited appeal to the Supreme Court. He suggested that Smith’s actions indicated a race against the clock, presumably driven by political considerations.
In December, Honig argued on CNN that Smith would refrain from acknowledging the election in his defense against Trump’s charges. He highlighted Smith’s strategic maneuvering, from winning an argument on immunity in the district court to seeking an expedited review by the Supreme Court.
Following Trump’s plea of not guilty to the charges brought forth by Smith, the Supreme Court granted the special counsel a one-week deadline to respond to Trump’s request for a trial delay. The charges against Trump include conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights, all stemming from Smith’s investigation into the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, and alleged interference in the 2020 election.
