Jack Smith’s team blasts Trump lawyers after they 'failed to disclose' 11th-hour motion to halt trial
Lawyers representing former President Donald Trump filed a late night motion Wednesday to "stay" (or temporarily pause) the classified documents trial, and prosecutors are urging the court to not give in.
"President Trump has moved to dismiss based on his absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for acts within the outer perimeter of his Presidential responsibilities," the motion read. "As President Trump should not be required to endure 'the burden of defending [himself], ... the Court should stay this matter, including all applicable deadlines, pending resolution of the Immunity Motion."
The timing of the motion frustrated special counsel Jack Smith's prosecuting team, who, according to Politico legal correspondent Josh Gerstein, said Trump's lawyers "failed to disclose" their intention to file the motion to stay at a Wednesday hearing on the logistics of the pending trial.
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In a filing responding to Trump's motion to stay, Department of Justice national security prosecutor Jay Bratt argued that Trump is simply following a familiar pattern of attempting to jam up the gears of the legal system with constant delays.
"As the Government argued to the Court yesterday, the trial date in the District of Columbia case should not be a determinative factor in the Court's decision whether to modify the dates in this matter," Bratt wrote. "Defendant Trump's action in the hours following the hearing in this case illustrate the point and confirm his overriding interest in delaying both trials at any cost."
"This court should [not] allow itself to be manipulated in this matter," he added.
Trump's federal trial in the Southern District of Florida concerning allegations that he improperly stored classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate is slated for May 20, 2024. However, his lawyers have attempted to delay that trial until after the 2024 presidential election. If Trump wins a second term, he would have the power to appoint an Attorney General who would dismiss the charges, or even pardon himself. The Washington, DC trial concerning his role in the January 6 insurrection is set for March 4, 2024. The former president's legal team argues a delay is necessary as the March trial could potentially overlap with the May trial.
READ MORE: Jack Smith says there is 'no reason' to grant Trump's delay request in Mar-a-Lago documents trial
