Richard Soriano
Donald Trump is urging House Republicans to escalate their confrontation with the Justice Department by subpoenaing Special Counsel Jack Smith.
The former president expressed support for Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna’s push to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in “inherent contempt” after the DOJ refused to release a crucial audio recording from an interview with President Joe Biden in October 2023.
Trump insisted that Republicans should also target Smith, accusing him of conducting an illegal investigation against him.
The House had previously voted to hold Garland in contempt, but the Justice Department opted not to pursue charges. Luna’s new resolution seeks to impose a $10,000 daily fine on Garland until the disputed audio tapes related to an investigation of Biden are disclosed.
Meanwhile, Smith is overseeing a probe into Trump’s handling of classified materials seized from his Mar-a-Lago estate during an FBI raid in August 2022. Trump has pleaded not guilty to numerous felony charges in this case.
In addition to his legal battles, Trump faces federal charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, which are being prosecuted by Jack Smith’s office. The case is currently navigating through legal complexities, including questions of presidential immunity and the definition of official acts.
Trump used his Truth Social platform to advocate for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, recently passed by the House, which mandates proof of citizenship for federal election voters.
Trump’s staunch defense against what he perceives as politically motivated legal challenges underscores his belief that these actions constitute interference in the upcoming 2024 election, where early polling indicates a closely contested race between Trump and Biden.
His call for Republicans to toughen their stance against what he terms as “weaponization and cheating” reflects broader concerns within the party about electoral integrity and future implications beyond his own legal battles.
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