WASHINGTON (Reuters) – is intensifying his efforts to have the criminal charges against him dropped, which relate to his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In a series of motions filed overnight, he is once again seeking to have the federal case dismissed.
The three filings, submitted late on Monday, come after the former Republican president’s previous attempt to dismiss the case based on presidential immunity was challenged by U.S. prosecutors last week.
Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, had previously requested a delay in the federal trial in Washington, currently scheduled for March, in order to hold it after the November 2024 election.
He faces four felony charges for his alleged interference in the vote counting process and his efforts to block the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. This is one of four criminal prosecutions that the former president is currently facing.
In the recent filings, Trump’s legal team urged the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to dismiss the case, arguing that the prosecution is unconstitutional, fails to demonstrate any violation of laws, and is driven by “selective and vindictive” motives.
The U.S. special counsel’s office representatives declined to comment on the matter, but are expected to file their response with the court by November 6.
Additionally, Trump’s lawyers are requesting the federal court in Washington to remove any mentions of individuals linked to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump’s supporters had sought to prevent the congressional certification of Biden’s win, leading to a deadly riot.
“Since President Trump has not been charged with responsibility for the Capitol incident on January 6, 2021, any allegations related to these events are irrelevant, prejudicial, and inflammatory,” stated the legal team.
However, in a previous filing, U.S. prosecutors stated that “the indictment clearly establishes a connection between the defendant and his actions on January 6.”
Earlier this month, Trump’s lawyers argued for the dismissal of the case, claiming that he should not be prosecuted because ensuring “election integrity” was a core responsibility of his presidency. U.S. prosecutors rejected this defense, stating that there is no constitutional provision that shields a former president from criminal prosecution.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
