Judge spares Jack Smith from contempt despite filing in paused Trump case

Published January 18, 2024 3:33pm ET



U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan declined on Thursday to hold special counsel Jack Smith in contempt of court on Thursday, though she affirmed that he and former President Donald Trump “shall not” file motions to her while the 2020 election subversion case is on hold.

Chutkan had temporarily halted proceedings in the case while Trump appeals his bid to dismiss the case on presidential immunity grounds, a question that is currently being considered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Nevertheless, Smith continued to file documents on the suspended deadlines, prompting Trump to ask Chutkan to hold Smith in contempt for violating the order.

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