Former President Donald Trump went on a Sunday morning rant on his new social media platform, Truth Social, expressing his grievances over the judge assigned to his Capitol riot criminal trial and the venue of the trial. Trump referred to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as a “sick & demented psycho” and criticized the special counsel, Jack Smith, whom he called “DERANGED.” He also reiterated his call for a federal takeover of Washington, D.C., which he described as “filthy and crime ridden.”
Trump specifically targeted Judge Tanya Chutkan, who was assigned to oversee his trial, stating that he cannot receive a fair trial with her on the case. He expressed his intention to request her recusal and a venue change, emphasizing powerful reasons to support his claims. Chutkan has been labeled as Trump’s “worst nightmare” an ex-prosecutor, and her rulings thus far have proved challenging for Trump’s legal team.
The judge recently denied a request from the Trump camp to extend a deadline for a protective order that limits what they can publicly share about the case. Legal experts believe that Chutkan is likely to treat Trump and other defendants equitably in her courtroom, potentially leading to significant consequences.
In addition to the judge, Trump criticized the venue of the trial and called for it to be moved to West Virginia, a state he won with a significant margin in the 2020 presidential election. He argued that a trial in Washington, D.C. would not provide him an even remotely fair trial, listing multiple reasons to support his claim.
John Lauro, one of Trump’s attorneys, previously stated that West Virginia would be an ideal location for the trial due to its diversity and a more balanced jury pool. Trump’s repeated dissatisfaction with both the judge and the venue indicates mounting tensions surrounding his Capitol riot trial.
