Trump's legal team launched an effort Monday to prevent the release of a final report by Special Counsel Jack Smith on the former president's handling of classified documents and alleged election interference. The report, expected soon, details the findings of Smith's investigation.
The legal team argues the report is flawed, claiming it's a politically motivated attempt to harm Trump. In a letter to Attorney General Garland, they demanded Smith's removal and that the report's handling be transferred to the incoming administration. They cite the Presidential Transition Act and Presidential Immunity Doctrine as justification for their request.
Smith's planned resignation prior to Trump's inauguration is also a factor in their arguments. The lawyers claim the report is "one-sided" and relies on grand jury evidence, highlighting what they perceive as procedural irregularities.
The former president's lawyers contend the special counsel's appointment was invalid, rendering the report inadmissible. Their emergency motion, filed alongside requests for a block on release, emphasizes concerns about due process and the presumption of innocence.
The legal action comes despite a dismissal of the charges against Trump and the former president's co-defendants. While the cases against Trump have been dropped, the obstruction of justice charges against former co-defendants remain.
The report, the team argues, would violate fundamental legal principles. The legal team reviewed a draft of the report, alleging it portrays Trump as the head of a criminal conspiracy aiming to overturn the 2020 election. These assertions were labeled as false by the legal team.
While Special Counsel reports are generally expected to be released, the unusual legal push highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump and his alleged misdeeds.
