Attorneys representing Donald Trump have raised concerns that federal prosecutors may be breaching a court-mandated suspension of his election interference case by continuing to supply him with discovery documents.
The halt was ordered by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan last week as the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals reviews Trump’s claim of “presidential immunity.”
Despite this, Trump’s legal team filed a complaint on Monday night, stating that special counsel Jack Smith was circumventing the pause by providing “thousands of pages of additional discovery” and a “draft exhibit list,” as reported by The Messenger.
Trump’s lawyers argued in their filing that these actions directly violate the Stay Order and unjustly burden the former president. They emphasized Trump’s right to be free from the litigation’s burdens during his appeal.
The special counsel’s office had earlier informed Judge Chutkan that they delivered an exhibit list to Trump’s attorneys to meet a previous deadline set by her, intending to expedite the trial’s progress once the court resumes control over the case.
However, Trump’s defense stated that they would not review the prosecution’s materials until the Stay Order is lifted, considering them unlawful under the current circumstances.
In related developments, a three-judge panel of the appeals court scheduled oral arguments for January 9. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court has consented to a request from Smith for an expedited review of the decision to take up the case and rule on the appeal.
Trump faces charges of four federal felonies linked to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, with his trial set to commence on March 4.
