Former President Donald Trump’s legal team has filed a motion asking the judge to block prosecutors from using evidence obtained during an FBI search of his Florida property in 2022. The defense claims that the search was unconstitutional and that the FBI affidavit contained misrepresentations. Prosecutors from special counsel Jack Smith’s office refuted these claims, stating that the search warrant was based on probable cause and provided guidance to FBI agents.
Hundreds of pages of documents from the investigation, including a previously sealed opinion from U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, were made public. The opinion stated that Trump’s lawyers had turned over classified documents found in Trump’s bedroom months after the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. Judge Howell directed a former lead lawyer for Trump to cooperate with investigators, rejecting arguments of attorney-client privilege and stating that prosecutors had shown Trump may have committed a crime.
In the unsealed motion, Trump’s defense team also asked to suppress audio recordings made by the lawyer during conversations with Trump. Prosecutors responded that there is no basis to exclude this evidence from the case. Both parties are set to appear in court, where Trump’s lawyers will argue for the dismissal of the indictment, claiming it is a personal and political attack against the former president. Trump has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges.
The trial for Trump’s case was previously postponed by Judge Aileen Cannon, who cited unresolved issues as the reason for canceling the trial date. The defense has filed multiple motions to dismiss the case, some of which have been denied. The upcoming court hearing will address Trump’s request to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that it fails to clearly articulate a crime and is instead based on uncharged grievances for public and media consumption. Trump’s legal team continues to fight against the prosecution’s use of evidence obtained during the FBI search.
Overall, the legal battle between Donald Trump and prosecutors continues as the defense seeks to block the use of evidence obtained during a controversial FBI search of his Florida property. With a series of motions and hearings, the case remains ongoing with both sides presenting arguments for and against the charges. Trump’s plea of not guilty and denial of any wrongdoing set the stage for a complex legal battle in the coming months.
