Former President Donald Trump’s legal team proposed more lax rules on Monday than those sought by prosecutors in his criminal election interference case.
In a new court filing, Trump’s lawyers say Special Counsel Jack Smith and prosecutors are trying to restrict his First Amendment rights.
“In a trial about First Amendment rights, the government seeks to restrict First Amendment rights,” the attorneys said in the court filing. “Worse, it does so against its administration’s primary political opponent, during an election season in which the administration, prominent party members, and media allies have campaigned on the indictment and proliferated its false allegations.”
Meanwhile, a judge in New York on Monday dismissed Trump’s lawsuit against E. Jean Carroll, the woman who accused him of rape.
Judge Lewis Kaplan said that Trump had not proven that Carroll’s statements were false or “not at least substantially true,” which is the legal standard.
Carroll was awarded $5 million in a civil case against Trump.
The former advice columnist went on CNN to discuss the verdict. She was asked about the finding that Trump sexually abused her but did not rape her, as defined under New York law.
“Oh, yes he did,” Carroll responded, prompting the Trump countersuit.
In Florida, the judge overseeing Trump’s classified documents case rebuked federal prosecutors and struck two of their filings, according to reports.
District Judge Aileen Cannon demanded an explanation of “the legal propriety of using an out-of-district grand jury proceeding to continue to investigate and/or to seek post-indictment hearings on matters pertinent to the instant indicted matter in this district.”
While the Mar-a-Lago case is being handled out of her Fort Pierce, Florida, courtroom, much of the grand jury work ahead of the indictment was conducted through a Washington, D.C., grand jury, The Hill reported.
On Sunday, one of Trump’s attorneys discussed the possibility of televising his federal trials.
Cameras are prohibited in federal courts.
“I would love to see that,” John Lauro, the attorney representing Trump in the election case, said on Fox News Sunday.
“I’m shocked actually that all the networks haven’t lined up and filed pleadings already objecting to this.”
