By Steve Neavling
Special counsel Jack Smith asked a judge Wednesday to prevent Donald Trump’s legal team from inserting politics into the former president’s federal election interference trial, The Wall Street Journal and other media outlets reported.
In a 20-page filing, Smith told U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan that Trump should be barred from “raising irrelevant political issues or arguments in front of the jury.” That includes alleging that the prosecution is vindictive or was coordinated by President Biden.
“In addition to being wrong, these allegations are irrelevant to the jury’s determination of the defendant’s guilt or innocence, would be prejudicial if presented to the jury, and must be excluded,” prosecutors wrote.
Smith’s team also said that Trump should be prevented from using “terminology such as the ‘Injustice Department,’ ‘Biden Indictment’ or similar phrases” in front of the jury.
In August, Trump pleaded not guilty to engaging in a “criminal scheme” to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
