Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan and special counsel Jack Smith, calling them “the most evil person” and “a sick puppy” respectively. Trump accused Chutkan of election interference for releasing redacted documents related to his Jan. 6-related federal criminal case. He also complained about the assignment of judges through a random selection system, suggesting bias against him.
Chutkan has faced threats from Trump supporters, with one Texas woman charged for making racist threats against her. Trump’s disparagement of the judge and special counsel, along with his delay strategy during the case, led to a Supreme Court ruling that excluded some of Smith’s evidence. Chutkan has since been working to determine outstanding issues in the case, including Trump’s alleged responsibility for the Jan. 6 attack.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to four charges in the case, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding. Smith argues that Trump knowingly spread lies about the 2020 election, a contention supported by Chutkan’s denial of Trump’s requests for additional discovery. Despite facing threats and criticism, Chutkan remains committed to handling the case impartially, regardless of Trump’s political aspirations.
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