Former President Donald Trump intensifies his criticism of Special Counsel Jack Smith ahead of a potentially damaging report on criminal cases against him.
According to Daily Mail, Trump unleashed a scathing attack on Special Counsel Jack Smith, calling him a "nutjob" and making controversial claims about his prosecutorial history, as his legal team attempts to block the release of a two-volume report on Trump's criminal cases.
The contentious relationship between Trump and Smith has reached new heights as the former president's lawyers race against time to prevent the release of what they describe as a politically motivated report.
Trump's legal team, including attorneys John Lauro and Todd Blanche, have submitted a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland characterizing the report as a "bad-faith crusade."
The special counsel's report, consisting of two volumes, addresses Trump's handling of classified documents and alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Smith plans to submit the report to Attorney General Garland on Tuesday afternoon, with a potential release date as early as Friday. Trump's lawyers argue that releasing the report would violate fundamental legal norms and the presumption of innocence.
Trump made his feelings about Smith known during an hour-long press conference at Mar-a-Lago. He referenced Smith's previous work at The Hague and made claims about his character. The former president's criticisms included personal attacks on Smith's appearance and professional conduct.
During the press conference, Trump stated:
They brought this moron out of The Hague. He's a mean guy. He's a mean, nasty guy. His picture was perfect, because you look at his picture, you say that's a bad guy with his robe – his purple robe – and he executes people. He shouldn't be allowed to execute people, because he'll execute everybody. He's a nutjob.
The timing of the report's potential release is particularly significant, as it could emerge just days before Trump's inauguration. The special counsel's team indicates that the portion dealing with classified documents won't be made public before 10 am on Friday. This timeline has created urgency among Trump's legal team to prevent what they view as potential political damage.
Former Representative Liz Cheney has weighed in on the situation, accusing Trump of attempting to suppress evidence and truth. She emphasized the importance of releasing the Justice Department report and preventing the destruction of evidence. The former vice chair of the House January 6 committee expressed concerns about Trump's actions regarding the investigation.
Trump's lawyers have had access to view the draft report in Washington, D.C., and claim it contains assertions about criminal conduct without jury determination. They specifically cite pages from both volumes of the report, suggesting it extends beyond 200 pages in total.
The impending release of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report marks a critical moment in the transition of presidential power. Trump and his legal team are fighting to prevent what they view as a potentially damaging document from becoming public just as he prepares to assume office. Meanwhile, Smith's departure from the cases comes after Trump's election victory effectively ended the prosecutions against him.
Trump's lawyers argue that Smith lacks the authority to produce the report and that its release would constitute a political stunt. They emphasize that the release would encroach on the executive authority of the incoming administration and violate Trump's mandate from voters.
