{"id":2359236,"date":"2024-10-24T19:20:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T23:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-jack-smith-is-not-a-valid-officer-in-bid-to-dismiss-jan-6-case-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-10-24T19:22:03","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T23:22:03","slug":"trump-says-jack-smith-is-not-a-valid-officer-in-bid-to-dismiss-jan-6-case-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-jack-smith-is-not-a-valid-officer-in-bid-to-dismiss-jan-6-case-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump says Jack Smith is not a \u2018valid officer\u2019 in bid to dismiss Jan. 6 case &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">38<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-says-jack-smith-is-not-a-valid-officer-in-bid-to-dismiss-jan-6-case-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2359236&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former President Donald Trump is contesting the legitimacy of Special \u200bCounsel Jack Smith&#8217;s appointment as\u2064 part of his legal defense in the \u2062January 6 case. Trump&#8217;s attorneys argue in a federal court motion that\u200d Smith&#8217;s appointment violates the U.S. Constitution&#8217;s appointments clause, claiming that Attorney General Merrick Garland lacked the\u200d authority to appoint Smith without \u200bSenate confirmation. They assert that even if Smith\u2062 were a valid officer, he should be classified as a \u200cprincipal officer rather than an inferior one, making \u2062his appointment unconstitutional since he wasn&#8217;t nominated by the President or confirmed by the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&#8217;s legal team references a concurring\u2063 opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas that questioned the\u200c validity of Smith&#8217;s \u2064role established by law. They insist this issue must be clarified before proceeding with the prosecution. This legal argument mirrors a previous case in which a Trump-appointed judge dismissed charges\u200b based on the same \u2063appointments clause, a decision that\u2063 led to significant discussions about Smith&#8217;s authority. In addition, Trump\u2019s motion\u200c claims misuse of taxpayer funds by Smith&#8217;s office, alleging that over $20 million was spent improperly \u200bbased on expired appropriations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump says Jack Smith is not a &lsquo;valid officer&rsquo; in bid to dismiss Jan. 6 case<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1844617\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a> is challenging the legitimacy of special counsel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jack-smith\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Jack Smith<\/a>&rsquo;s appointment in a new case, claiming Smith was unlawfully appointed and is not a &ldquo;valid officer&rdquo; under the Constitution.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In a motion filed in federal court in the Jan. 6 case against him, Trump&rsquo;s attorneys argued that Smith&rsquo;s appointment violates the appointments clause, asserting that Attorney General Merrick Garland lacked the authority to appoint Smith without Senate confirmation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Even if Smith is a valid officer, which he is not, he is a principal rather than an inferior<br \/>officer and his appointment is plainly unconstitutional because he was never nominated by the President or confirmed by the Senate,&rdquo; wrote Trump&rsquo;s attorney in a 30-page filing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Special counsel Jack Smith speaks about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, at a Department of Justice office in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">legal team leaned heavily<\/a> on a concurring opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas in the Supreme Court&rsquo;s July 1 decision in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3030301\/supreme-court-finds-some-immunity-for-presidents-complicating-trump-indictment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Trump v. United States\">Trump v. United States<\/a><\/em>, in which the conservative justice questioned whether Smith&rsquo;s role had been &ldquo;established by law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s lawyers asserted that the issue of Smith&rsquo;s appointment must be resolved before the Jan. 6 prosecution can proceed.<\/p>\n<p>This argument echoes the legal strategy that previously led Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3082471\/judge-dismisses-trump-classified-documents-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">dismiss<\/a> another criminal case brought by Smith against Trump regarding classified documents. In that case, Cannon sided with Trump when dismissing the charges based on arguments related to the appointments clause. Trump&rsquo;s legal team hopes for a similar outcome in this instance, although the current case is being overseen by Judge Tanya Chutkan, who has seldom ruled in Trump&rsquo;s favor.<\/p>\n<p>After Cannon&rsquo;s decision, Garland <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3105791\/garland-defends-smith-appointment-would-not-make-that-mistake\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">disputed<\/a> the ruling and said he partook in the &ldquo;same process of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-stefanik-cawthorn-support-appointing-special-counsel-on-biden-family-china-ties\/\" title=\"Exclusive -- Stefanik, Cawthorn Support\u00a0Appointing Special Counsel on Biden Family China Ties\">appointing special counsel<\/a> as was followed in the previous administration,&rdquo; pointing to special counsels John Durham and Robert Mueller, who were appointed during the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to challenging Smith&rsquo;s appointment, Trump&rsquo;s motion claimed that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-debate-performance-renews-spotlight-on-hur-tapes-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Biden debate performance renews spotlight on Hur tapes - Washington Examiner\">special counsel&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s office has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whats-next-for-fani-willis\/\" title=\"What&#039;s in store for Fani Willis\">misused taxpayer funds<\/a>. According to the filing, Smith&rsquo;s team has spent more than $20 million inappropriately, drawing on an expired 1987 appropriation related to the defunct Independent Counsel Act.<\/p>\n<p>Trump argued that the government&rsquo;s reliance on outdated legal frameworks is a violation of the appropriations clause, and the filing seeks an injunction to halt further spending by Smith&rsquo;s office.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This latest motion aims to affect the trajectory of the case, as Trump and allies have stressed that the continued proceedings just days before Election Day mark a form of &ldquo;election interference.&rdquo; Chutkan recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3194239\/judge-chutkan-denies-trump-request-delay-release-jack-smith-jan-6-evidence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">issued a ruling<\/a> responding to that allegation from Trump, writing in an order that stopping pretrial proceedings at this time would in itself mark a form of election interference by the court.<\/p>\n<p>Legal experts have said Chutkan&rsquo;s track record of ruling against Trump makes the outcome of Smith&rsquo;s removal in this case less likely, while the U.S. appeals court is poised to weigh soon whether Cannon erred by dismissing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-not-surprised-by-dismissal-of-trump-classified-documents-case-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Biden \u2018not surprised\u2019 by dismissal of Trump classified documents case - Washington Examiner\">classified documents case earlier<\/a> this year under the same legal theory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1844617\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1844617\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump claims Jack Smith is not a &#8216;valid officer&#8217; to dismiss Jan. 6 case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2359237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jack-smith-surprise.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32463,32087,3634],"class_list":["post-2359236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-jack-smith","tag-jan-6","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jack-smith-surprise.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2359236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2359237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2359236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2359236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2359236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}