A D.C. federal judge called out the latest bid at endless delay from attorneys for Donald Trump.
Trump’s lawyers had argued that deadlines in his D.C. election reversal case should be delayed because of issues relating to classified material.
It was an obviously bogus excuse to further push the proceedings down the calendar from the start, but federal prosecutors with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office made it clearer in a Monday filing. Trump attorney John Lauro hadn’t even submitted his paperwork for a security clearance yet, they said, while another, Todd Blanche, had done so more than one month ago. Attorneys in cases involving classified material need a provisional security clearance to review records.
So, Tuesday morning, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan essentially called the lawyers’ bluff: She ordered Trump attorneys to “initiate and complete all security clearance tasks” by Oct. 10. And she wants proof of compliance by Oct. 11. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 16.
Trump’s strategy throughout his lifelong series of brushes with the legal system has been to delay the proceedings. It’s incredibly salient now as he remains the overwhelming frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination; getting elected next year would allow him to quash the two federal criminal cases brought against him.
Smith’s team has, accordingly, been open in calling out attempts at unreasonable delay when they see it – that’s quite often. Chutkan’s order Tuesday morning suggests that she’s also quite aware of the dynamics here, and willing to call Trump’s bluff.
I hate Donald Trump.
I am truly waiting to read her decision on Trump’s threats to witnesses, the judge, and members of the prosecution legal team. Her response should be priceless…and that’s important because Trump will be losing a large fraction of his money shortly. Smart thinking ahead Melania…
Every day we are getting new stories of “the fat going on the fire.” May it continue to be so until we are rid of the fat. He who is “fat” is not a cryptic reference.
Trump’s lawyers must be receiving a lot of money from Trump. They are effectively destroying their reputations with the judges. The legal world is small. Most lawyers think about what will happen the day after the current case ends. There isn’t a ghost written book for each of these guys. A lot of them will want to practice law after Trump’s cases end.
Every time I see Trump’s legal teams I believe he is still choosing people based on whether they look the part and not on actual knowledge or expertise. Apparently he thinks someone who looks like Josh Brolin can get the job done for him.