It’s funny how everything magically works against Trump’s favor isn’t it?
On Monday, Former President Trump asserted that special counsel Jack Smith was appearing before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who he deemed as an ideal choice for him. This judge is overseeing a case linked to Trump’s post-2020 election power retention efforts. Trump has consistently criticized both the case’s location in Washington, D.C. and Judge Chutkan, contending that a fair trial is unattainable under these circumstances.
According to The Hill, Trump shared his thoughts on the matter through a post on Truth Social, stating, “Deranged Jack Smith is going before his number one draft pick, the Judge of his ‘dreams’ (WHO MUST BE RECUSED!), in an attempt to take away my FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. This, despite the fact that he, the DOJ, and his many Thug prosecutors, are illegally leaking, everything and anything, to the Fake News Media!!!”
These recent statements are part of a series of messages from Trump, who is a prominent contender for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, that have targeted Judge Chutkan. It’s important to note that Judge Chutkan, a nominee of former President Obama, was randomly assigned to the case in D.C. While she presides over this case, a separate Trump-appointed judge handles a different case involving classified documents in Florida.
The case being overseen by Judge Chutkan in D.C. is also related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, which occurred near the courthouse. The local population in D.C. largely supported President Biden in the 2020 election, a detail that Trump and his allies frequently emphasize.
Trump faced four criminal charges tied to his efforts to maintain power after losing the 2020 election. In a recent arraignment, he pleaded guilty to all four counts. Judge Chutkan, confirmed by the U.S. Senate without opposition, is known for delivering stringent sentences in cases related to the January 6 events. She ruled in favor of the January 6 select committee’s inquiry into the Capitol attack, granting access to crucial records that bolstered their case against Trump. Many attribute the committee’s work as instrumental in the latest indictment against Trump.
In her ruling against Trump, Judge Chutkan stated, “Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President.”
During the weekend, Trump’s supporters-turned-critics, including former Attorney General Bill Barr and former New Jersey Governor and U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, rebuffed the argument that a fair trial for Trump is unattainable in D.C. Both Barr and Christie expressed confidence in the jurors from the D.C. area. It’s noteworthy that Christie is a rival of Trump’s in the 2024 GOP primary race.