Trump demands removal of judge overseeing his Jan. 6 case

By Mucahit Oktay

Former US President Donald Trump has called on the presiding judge in his latest criminal case to recuse herself, saying there is no way he can get a fair trial with her on the bench.

Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that his legal team would ask US District Court Judge Chutkan to withdraw from the case "on very strong grounds," arguing that "a fair trial would not be possible."

“THERE IS NO WAY I CAN GET A FAIR TRIAL WITH THE JUDGE ‘ASSIGNED’ TO THE RIDICULOUS FREEDOM OF SPEECH/FAIR ELECTIONS CASE,” he said.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, AND SO DOES SHE! WE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY ASKING FOR RECUSAL OF THIS JUDGE ON VERY POWERFUL GROUNDS, AND LIKEWISE FOR VENUE CHANGE, OUT IF D.C.”

Prosecutors on Friday requested that Judge Chutkan, who was appointed under President Barack Obama, issue a protective order concerning evidence in the case after Trump released a post online that appeared to promise revenge on anyone who goes after him.

“IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!” the former president posted on Truth Social.

The order would limit what information Trump and his legal team could share publicly about the case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

She gave Trump's legal team until 5 p.m. Monday to respond. The legal team filed a request to extend the response deadline to Thursday and to hold a hearing on the issue. But Chutkan denied that extension request on Saturday and said that Trump must abide by Monday's deadline.

The Justice Department’s prosecutors argue that Trump's seemingly threatening post on Truth Social was "particularly important" in the lawsuit filed against him in Washington on Tuesday.

Trump was criminally charged on Aug. 1 with conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.

He appeared in court on Aug. 3 in Washington, D.C. and stated that he was not guilty, arguing that the charges against him were "election interference" and a "witch hunt."