Trump attorneys ask judge to hold special counsel in contempt for pursuing paused D.C. case

Former President Donald Trump's legal team want U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to hold special counsel Jack Smith in contempt of court for pursuing activities to related to his election case despite Chutkan pausing proceedings pending Trump's legal appeals.

Chutkan, in mid-December paused the case after Trump petitioned the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to decide on his claims to enjoy presidential immunity, which Chutkan herself rejected. Smith, for his part, asked the Supreme Court to step in, but it declined to do so.

Despite the pause, Smith has remained active and requested that Chutkan not permit Trump to admit evidence related to security failures at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, or selective prosecution.

Chutkan's order "stays any further proceedings that would move this case towards trial or impose additional burdens of litigation on Defendant," the Hill reported. Trump's attorneys, for their part, contend that Smith's team has clearly violated that directive.

"The prosecutors repeatedly engaged in that exact conduct, disobeying the Stay Order at least three times in just two weeks ... The prosecutors have no justification for their misconduct," they asserted.

Trump faces four counts in the case, including conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. He pleaded not guilty last year.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.