Special Counsel Jack Smith on Friday denounced former President Trump's contempt request, saying the effort merely brings up “recycled allegations.”
Trump's lawyers filed for contempt on Thursday, citing a dispute over how Judge Tanya Chutkan suspended litigation activity. The defense argued that with the case on hold, prosecutors should have ceased all activity, including filing new charges.
“Defendants allege that the government intentionally violated the court's stay order and furthered its political agenda by fulfilling its continuing discovery obligations and voluntarily complying with the suspended deadlines. That is false,” federal prosecutors said in a court filing Friday.
“The government has not violated, and never intended to intentionally violate, the court's orders. Defendant's repeated claims of partisanship and prosecutorial misconduct remain unfounded,” they continued.
Last month, Mr. Chutkan suspended Mr. Trump's criminal election interference lawsuit, pending an appeal by the high court of his claim that Mr. Trump should be immune.
Prosecutors argued in their response Friday that Trump's actions do not violate the moratorium because he does not have to respond to any new complaints or litigation activity filed.
“There is nothing here that requires defendant to take any action, only to receive discovery material that he is not required to consider or to file early a government petition that he does not yet have to respond to. , the defendant has not explained what burden this may pose to him,” the prosecutor said.
In the filing, prosecutors say they “did what they said they would do” by filing motions and discovery to keep a planned trial on track if Trump's appeal fails. The case is scheduled for trial on March 4.
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