Donald Trump’s authorized staff meets with particular counsel Jack Smith as extra federal indictments looms

By Evan Perez, Jamie Gangel, Kaitlan Collins, Katelyn Polantz, Tierney Sneed, Sara Murray, Alayna Treene and Kristen Holmes | CNN

A gathering between Donald Trump’s protection legal professionals and particular counsel Jack Smith has concluded with out the previous president’s staff getting any steering about timing of a doable indictment, sources accustomed to the matter inform CNN.

Since receiving a letter from Smith indicating he’s a goal of the investigation earlier this month, Trump had argued in opposition to a gathering between his attorneys and Smith’s staff as a result of the previous president believed the indictment was already a accomplished deal, two sources accustomed to his pondering stated.

The grand jury listening to proof from the particular counsel’s probe into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election is sitting Thursday on the federal courthouse in Washington, DC.

CNN noticed jurors and a prosecutor working for Smith coming into the courthouse this morning. After breaking for an early lunch, the grand jury has reconvened. The grand jury, which usually meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, had not been seen contained in the federal courthouse since final week.

CNN has reached out to the Justice Division for remark.

In looking for a gathering with Smith’s staff, Trump’s legal professionals hoped to no less than delay any potential plans for the grand jury at hand up an indictment Thursday, folks briefed on the plans stated.

One other supply accustomed to the authorized staff’s pondering tells CNN additionally they anticipated to debate the logistics of how a possible indictment and arraignment of the previous president would work.

Trump’s political and authorized technique has been to delay any doable trials – together with till doubtlessly after the 2024 election – and to place the Justice Division in an uncomfortable place the place they’re pursuing a prosecution of President Joe Biden’s chief 2024 rival at the same time as major voters are starting to have their say.