After being charged with federal offences in an indictment last week, former president Donald Trump on Monday criticised special counsel Jack Smith and the federal judge assigned to oversee the 2020 election case’s proceedings.
Trump urged that U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan disqualify herself in a post on his Truth Social account, alleging that Smith is appearing before Chutkan in an effort to restrict the former president’s First Amendment rights.
“Deranged Jack Smith is going before his number one draught pick, the Judge of his ‘dreams,’ in an attempt to remove my First Amendment rights — This, despite the fact that he, the DOJ, and his numerous Thug prosecutors are illegally leaking, everything and anything, to the Fake News Media!!!” Trump penned.On Sunday, Trump had also demanded Chutkan’s removal from the case, claiming that he was doing so “on very powerful grounds.” He said nothing further.
When asked for reaction and explanation, Trump’s team said that prosecutors are “leaking to the press” but didn’t elaborate on his remarks regarding Chutkan.
Requests for comment from Smith’s office and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia were not immediately fulfilled.