Two days before Super Tuesday, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump raged against claims of “election interference” by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on his social media platform, Truth Social.
In his Sunday post, Trump wrote, “We’re in the middle of an Election. We have Super Tuesday coming up very shortly. According to Justice Department guidelines, they shouldn’t be prosecuting me.”
He also pointed to the DOJ’s written policy that states on its website, “Federal prosecutors and agents may never select the timing of any action, including investigative steps, criminal charges, or statements, for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party.”
The former president then ended his post with an all-caps message: “THIS IS ELECTION INTERFERENCE, AND SHOULD BE STOPPED IN THE COURTS!”
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event on Saturday in Greensboro, North Carolina. Two days before Super Tuesday, Trump raged against claims of “election interference” by the Department of… Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event on Saturday in Greensboro, North Carolina. Two days before Super Tuesday, Trump raged against claims of “election interference” by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on his social media platform, Truth Social.
AFP/Getty Images
The Context:
After being indicted by the DOJ in June, Trump is facing 40 federal charges over allegations he retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after leaving the White House in January 2021. He is also accused of obstructing efforts by authorities to have them returned. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In a hearing that Trump attended on Friday, Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump in 2020 and is overseeing the classified documents case, asked about the DOJ’s “60-day rule” against taking actions that might affect an upcoming election. According to multiple news outlets in the courtroom, the DOJ responded by stating the “60-day rule” does not apply to Trump’s actual trials since he was indicted before he started campaigning.
“We are in full compliance with the justice manual,” Jay Bratt, a senior counterintelligence supervisor at the DOJ, said during the hearing.
What We Know:
Trump has claimed that he had a right to retain the materials and possessed a broad authority to declassify documents during his presidency. He has also accused all of the investigations against him of being politically motivated efforts to harm his presidential campaign.
DOJ special counsel Jack Smith is leading the prosecution on the classified documents case, along with the federal election obstruction case against Trump. In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to hear Trump’s claim that he has presidential immunity from prosecution.
In August, the former president was indicted by the DOJ in its investigation regarding the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. The investigation centered around the riot, which saw a mob of Trump supporters—allegedly incited by his unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud—violently protest at the Capitol building in a failed effort to block Joe Biden’s 2020 Electoral College victory. Trump has plead not guilty in that case as well.
Views:
Cannon appears “unlikely” to get Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents case to trial before the 2024 election, according to former federal prosecutor and legal analyst Renato Mariotti.
“There are so many criminal trials that are upcoming and as far as Mar-a-Lago goes, Judge Aileen Cannon has really shown a willingness to push this trial and to give as much latitude to Trump’s team as possible,” he said during an interview with CNN on Saturday. “It is just really hard for me to see her putting his feet to the fire, particularly given the fact that the classified documents at issue add an element of complexity give her opportunities to delay further. I just think that realistically, it is unlikely that she is going to force them to go to trial before the election.”
Meanwhile, Smith’s office said to Cannon that the trial should begin in July.
What’s Next?
Trump and Nikki Haley are set to compete in the busiest day of the primary season, with more than a dozen states holding races on Super Tuesday to decide on the next Republican presidential nominee.
Despite his myriad legal issues, Trump has already cemented his position as the clear favorite to clinch the 2024 GOP nomination, following resounding victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and Michigan.
Haley, a former United Nations ambassador in the Trump administration, has dismissed calls that she should drop out of the race after failing to win any of the previous primary elections, including in her home state of South Carolina. She said her campaign is focusing on Super Tuesday.
Update 3/3/24, 2:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 3/3/24, 2:32 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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