Legal Battle Continues for Trump in 2020 Election Case

A federal judge has denied a request made by Donald Trump's legal team to hold special counsel Jack Smith's team in contempt in the 2020 election interference case. The judge rejected the accusation of "outrageous conduct" by prosecutors and ordered that no further substantive court filings should be submitted without permission. The case has been put on hold while Trump appeals his claim of presidential immunity. The judge's order did not explicitly prohibit the actions taken by Smith's team, but she has prohibited all parties from filing substantive pretrial motions without court permission until the pause is lifted. The trial, initially scheduled for March 4, is likely to be postponed as Trump's immunity claim progresses through higher courts. The federal appeals court in Washington is expected to rule on the issue after hearing arguments last week. Prosecutors have stated that they will continue to meet deadlines set by the court to ensure a prompt resumption of the pretrial schedule if the case returns to court. This case is one of four criminal cases Trump faces as he seeks to return to the White House this year, accused of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results.