Former President Donald Trump has requested that federal Judge Tanya Chutkan delay the release of a large portion of evidence from special counsel Jack Smith until after the upcoming presidential election. The evidence, set to be released as part of Trump’s election interference case in Washington, D.C., is expected to be docketed on Nov. 14, shortly after the Nov. 5 election.
Trump’s legal team argues that releasing this evidence before the election could lead to biased media coverage, influencing the potential jury pool. According to court filings, Trump’s attorneys fear that immediate release of the documents would give the public a “skewed, one-sided, and inaccurate picture” of the case, potentially leaving a lasting impression before Trump’s defense has a chance to respond.
“If the Court immediately releases the Special Counsel’s cherry-picked documents, potential jurors will be left with a skewed, one-sided, and inaccurate picture of this case,” Trump’s attorneys wrote. They emphasized that first impressions tend to stick, meaning any initial media coverage could unfairly sway public perception of Trump before his full defense is presented.
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This legal battle arrives as Trump campaigns for a potential return to the White House, facing off against Vice President Kamala Harris in what has become a closely contested race. Trump’s legal troubles, including previous convictions for falsifying business records related to hush money payments during the 2016 election, continue to dominate the headlines.
The complexity of the case increased after a Supreme Court ruling earlier this summer limited Trump’s presidential immunity, particularly regarding his efforts to push the Justice Department to investigate unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud following the 2020 election.
Despite Trump’s not guilty plea, the 165-page document from Jack Smith’s team outlines extensive new evidence against the former president. The document was filed earlier this month, and Judge Chutkan has ruled that it will be made public, despite Trump’s efforts to keep it sealed until after the election.
