Mary Trump, the niece of Donald Trump, asserts that her uncle is responsible for the recent legal developments in Jack Smith’s filing, which calls for his prosecution for alleged interference in the 2020 election.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan released 165 pages of evidence against Trump as part of the election fraud case. Trump has vehemently denied the allegations.
The document, publicized at Smith’s request, claims that Trump contacted then-Vice President Mike Pence on January 6, 2021, urging him to not certify Joe Biden’s election victory, and suggests that a Trump campaign member prompted supporters to incite chaos outside the counting center.
After the evidence was made public, Trump accused Smith and the Department of Justice (DOJ) of timing the release to coincide with a vice presidential debate, where many believed his running mate, JD Vance, performed well.
In his social media posts, Trump labeled the filing a “hit job” and claimed it was politically motivated. He said, “The DOJ has become nothing more than an extension of Joe’s, and now Kamala’s Campaign.”
In contrast, Mary Trump argues that her uncle’s attempts to delay his case are the real reason behind the timing, stating, “If Donald wants to blame somebody for the fact that Smith’s filing was made public so close to the election, he just needs to look in the mirror.”
The election interference trial, initially set for April, has been postponed due to Trump’s legal maneuvers, making it less likely he will be tried before the upcoming election.
Legal experts maintain that the timing of the filing’s release was coincidental and not influenced by Smith. Trump’s lawyers had the chance to object if they felt the release was politically motivated.
Trump faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct an official proceeding, which he denies, claiming he’s the target of a political witch hunt.
Recently, Smith updated the indictment against Trump to align with a Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential immunity for official actions, adjusting aspects of the case related to the DOJ and how Trump is referred to in the indictment.