Thomas Windom, attorney representing the team from special counsel John L. “Jack” Smith, argued that Trump’s team has already started a strategy to try the case in the public rather than in the courtroom.
“Here the defendant is asking for the court’s blessing to use criminal discovery for political purposes,” Windom said.
Trump has continued posting about the case since his indictment, including about people who could be witnesses in the case such as Pence, a rival for the Republican presidential nomination.
“These Fake Indictments against me didn’t come down from heaven, they came from the most corrupt President in the history of the United States, Crooked Joe Biden, in order to Rig & Steal another Election. They shouldn’t even be allowed to go forward,” Trump posted Thursday.
Lauro called the proposed order for protecting evidence a “contempt trap” for the former president while he runs his reelection campaign. Lauro repeatedly mentioned Pence, saying Trump may respond to arguments his former vice president makes on the campaign trail, which could include information that happens to be part of the case.