In a recent interview with CNN, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland made a significant revelation regarding the cases Special Counsel Jack Smith is pursuing against former President Trump.
Garland had appointed Smith as special counsel to investigate Trump shortly after the ex-president declared his intention to run for the White House in 2024.
Garland's comments suggested an agreement with the need for a 'speedy trial' as Trump attempts to postpone the two trials scheduled to commence on March 4 and May 24. This has led to accusations of election interference. "I agree with special counsel Jack Smith's assertion that the 'public interest requires a speedy trial' in the 2020 election currently set for trial in March in Washington, DC," Garland stated, as reported by CNN.
Garland further clarified that the timing of the trial is now in the hands of the trial judge. He also defended the department against allegations of election interference, responding to questions about whether the federal cases against Trump should have been initiated earlier to prevent the prosecution of a leading candidate just months before a presidential election.
"The cases were brought last year. The prosecutor has urged speedy trials, with which I agree. And it's now in the hands of the judicial system, not in our hands," Garland said. "Special prosecutors followed the facts and the law. They brought cases when they thought they were ready."
Trump is currently seeking to delay Smith's trials until after the 2024 presidential election. Smith's case against Trump, related to the events of January 6 in DC, is set to begin on March 4. However, Judge Tanya Chutkan has indicated that it will likely be postponed.
Judge Chutkan, an Obama appointee, issued a 6-page order barring Smith from filing any more motions amid Trump's pending immunity argument before the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. She also rejected Trump's request to hold Smith and his prosecutors in contempt for violating her order to stay all legal proceedings.
Trump's legal team has argued that Trump is immune from federal prosecution for alleged 'crimes' committed during his presidency. Smith's DC case is currently on hold pending a decision from a federal appeals court on Trump's immunity argument.
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