Trump ‘Innuendo’ Not Enough to Oust Election Judge, US Says (2)

The US Justice Department is opposing Donald Trump’s effort to disqualify the Washington federal judge handling the 2020 election obstruction criminal case against him, arguing the request has “no valid basis” and accusing the former president of cherry-picking the judge’s words.

Trump’s defense lawyers have asked US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to step aside, citing what they said were her “negative” comments about him. Special Counsel John “Jack” Smith’s office countered in filing late Thursday, calling the request baseless. Chutkan’s comments — made during hearings in other cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US ...