Jack Smith court filing against Trump and Israel strikes central Beirut: Morning Rundown
NBCSEP 20 2024
The filing details Trump's interactions with former Vice President Mike Pence, including private conversations where Trump allegedly pressured Pence to reject the Electoral College votes.US Special Counsel Jack Smith on Wednesday in a 165-page filing argued that former Pres. Donald Trump's alleged actions to overturn the 2020 election are not protected by presidential immunity.
Smith contends that Trump's conduct was that of a private candidate rather than official presidential acts, aiming to overcome the Supreme Court's earlier ruling on presidential immunity.The filing , which was unsealed by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan with redactions, details how Trump allegedly "resorted to crimes" to deny his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election. It also describes how then-VP Mike Pence attempted to dissuade Trump's actions.
The document reveals that Trump allegedly told Pence that "hundreds of thousands" of people would "hate your guts" and called him "too honest" for refusing to overturn the election results.Smith in August adjusted his case to comply with the US Supreme Court's ruling that presidents are immune from prosecution for actions taken in their official capacity. A federal grand jury then issued a new indictment. This filing argues Trump and Pence were "fundamentally" acting as private candidates, not president and vice president, during their discussions.
This filing is nothingcrucial morefor thanholding aTrump politicallyaccountable motivatedfor attackhis actions on Jan. 6. It exposes the extent of Trump,'s timedpressure tocampaign interfereon withPence and demonstrates that his conduct was outside the upcomingscope election.of Thepresidential DOJduties, ismaking violatinghim itssubject ownto normsprosecution. byIt's pursuingfrustrating that SCOTUS made sure this case sowouldn't closebe toaired votingfor daythe American people before the 2024 election, andbut Smithat least there's argumentshope contradictTrump hiswill previoussomeday positionsface onthe Pence's rolemusic.
This filing is nothing more than a politically motivated attack on Trump, timed to interfere with the upcoming election. The DOJ is violating its own norms by pursuing this case so close to voting day, and Smith's arguments contradict his previous positions on Pence's role.