Experts tell Newsweek that Donald Trump’s accusation of « hit job » filing was arguably his own fault.
Experts speaking to Newsweek have debunked Donald Trump’s claim that the release of a new briefing by special prosecutor Jack Smith, outlining the case to prosecute the former president, was a « hit job », saying Trump knew about it and had caused the delays leading to its release.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Wednesday made public a lengthy filing from special counsel Jack Smith following his investigation into the former president’s alleged efforts to interfere with the transfer of power following the 2020 election. Trump denies the allegations.
Trump claimed that « Deranged Jack Smith » and the « DOJ » had timed the release following the vice presidential debate, in which many considered running mate JD Vance came out top.
Smith’s brief, filed last week but made public on Wednesday, aims to convince Chutkan, who is overseeing the federal election subversion case, that Trump’s alleged offenses are private rather than official acts and can, therefore, remain in the indictment. In July, the Supreme Court ruled presidents had broad immunity for official acts.
It contained the government’s evidence against Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges related to attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss and to the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack that followed.
The release led to a series of social media posts from Trump, accusing the Smith and others of interference.
In a post on Truth Social, posted on October 2, 2024, Trump said: « Democrats are Weaponizing the Justice Department against me because they know I am WINNING, and they are desperate to prop up their failing Candidate, Kamala Harris.
« The DOJ pushed out this latest ‘hit job’ today because JD Vance humiliated Tim Walz last night in the Debate. The DOJ has become nothing more than an extension of Joe’s, and now Kamala’s, Campaign. »
In another post the same day, Republican presidential candidate Trump named Jack Smith among those who had « weaponized » the Department of Justice (DOJ).
« Deranged Jack Smith, the hand picked Prosecutor of the Harris-Biden DOJ, and Washington, D.C. based Radical Left Democrats, are HELL BENT on continuing to Weaponize the Justice Department in an attempt to cling to power », Trump said.
Elsewhere he wrote: « This is a case of Election interference by Jack Smith. Old information that should not have been released prior to the Election. There was no reason to release it. Gregg Jarrett, FoxNews. »
This is by no means the first time that Trump has accused his opponents of weaponizing branches of government to undermine his reputation during the election campaign.
Indeed, Trump has had matters to celebrate his week. JD Vance was considered by many to have performed better than his opposite number, Tim Walz, in the vice presidential debate on Tuesday while a series of polls show that Trump is pushing ahead in battleground states.
