Special counsel Jack Smith obtained cell phone data from former President Donald Trump that will be presented as evidence in the trial of his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
Smith revealed the plan in a Monday court filing that detailed an expert witness who reviewed data extracted from Trump’s cell phone. It is unclear exactly what information from the phone is under review. Smith mentioned images, websites, and locations but not communications from the former president.
According to the filing, the expert witness will detail “the usage of these phones throughout the post-election period, including on and around January 6, 2021.” The presentation to the jury will include a specification of “the periods of time during which the defendant’s phone was unlocked and the Twitter application was open on January 6.”
The witness, who is not named in the filing, will provide a review “analyzing images found on the phones and websites visited.”
Smith did not mention whether the evidence will be able to attribute the data to Trump himself. The former president’s staff had access to his phone, Politico noted, including Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino.
A cell phone from an unidentified Trump ally was also reviewed and will be presented in the case.
Prosecutors, who allege Trump attempted to impede the peaceful transfer of power in the 2020 election, previously obtained a search warrant in the case to review the former president’s Twitter account, which also included location data. The case includes testimonies from dozens of Trump’s allies.
Trump delivered a speech to his supporters in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021, casting doubt on the election results and encouraging his supporters to protest.
“I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard,” he said. In the same speech, he said, “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
However, as protesters entered the Capitol later that day, Trump posted on social media about the importance of a peaceful protest.
“I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order -– respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!” he wrote.
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