Donald Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, condemned a recent court filing that sought to prohibit Trump from making "political attacks" during his election-related trial, calling it a "due process violation.

Donald Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, condemned a recent court filing that sought to prohibit Trump from making “political attacks” during his election-related trial, calling it a “due process violation.” The special counsel, Jack Smith, argued that Trump should be barred from telling jurors that he is being selectively prosecuted during his Washington trial, stating that it could be prejudicial.

Smith’s office filed court papers requesting U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the case and trial, to rule that the former president cannot claim in court that he is being prosecuted for political reasons. President Trump has consistently stated that the election case against him is a form of election interference designed to prevent him from seeking the White House again, and recent polls have shown him with an advantage over his GOP rivals in the 2024 national race.

The trial is set to commence on March 4, just one day before the Super Tuesday nominating contest for the 2024 presidential election. With the court filing and Mr. Smith’s petition to the Supreme Court asking the justices to rule on whether President Trump has immunity from prosecution, Habba argued that prosecutors are rushing to try and convict the former president before the election.

Furthermore, President Trump accused the Smith team of ignoring the law and clear instructions from the judge, calling the motion “pathetic” and an “illegal” effort to deprive him of his free speech rights at trial by taking away his right to argue that the case is a “political persecution.” Earlier, his attorneys had asked Judge Chutkan to dismiss the case on the grounds that the indictment was vindictive and selective. In response, prosecutors said that President Trump’s lawyers should be prohibited from making that argument to a jury during the trial.

The filings show how contentious this trial will be, as they attempt to prevent Trump from introducing any evidence about foreign influence in the 2020 race and from telling jurors about potential punishment he could face if convicted, as well as saying law enforcement agencies were not prepared for the Jan. 6, 2021, breach at the U.S. Capitol.

Alina Habba, Trump’s spokesperson on legal matters, accused the Smith team of arguing that a defendant “cannot put your own defense.” She lamented that this was indicative of the current state of affairs in the country. She emphasized that the defense team would handle the situation appropriately and vigorously, with the hope that the appropriate measures they already have in place will still be effective.

Overall, the court filings and the legal back-and-forth highlight the deep divisions and intense legal battling that have come to define the case involving the former president. With the trial set to start soon, all parties involved are gearing up for what is expected to be a highly contentious and closely-watched legal battle unfolding in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.