By Benjamin Lynch |
Donald Trump has released a statement slamming Special Counsel Jack Smith after the Supreme Court agreed to look at whether the former president can be criminally charged.
A spokesperson for Trump accused Smith of interfering with the 2024 election, branded him President Joe Biden’s “henchman” and said Smith had launched a “Hail Mary” after he filed a request to the Supreme Court to review if the 45th president is immune from federal prosecution regarding alleged crimes committed while he was in office.
The statement said: “As President Trump has said over and over again, this prosecution is completely politically motivated… There is absolutely no reason to rush this Witch Hunt to trial, except to injure President Trump and his 150 million, at least, supporters.”
Smith’s 81-page request is an attempt to bypass a federal appeals court decision on the president’s request for immunity. This was denied by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan at the beginning of this month and Trump’s appeal is awaiting a decision in an appellate court.
A bypass could mean the March 4 trial date previously set could still go ahead, avoiding delays caused by Trump’s appeals.
