Former Judge J. Michael Luttig caught MSNBC's Ali Velshi by surprise on Sunday morning by stating he thinks Judge Tanya Chutkan would have no problem stating Donald Trump trial related to the Jan. 6 insurrection just days before voters got to the polls in November.
Appearing to talk about the Supreme Court's impending ruling on Donald Trump's bid for absolute immunity expected Monday morning, the conservative judge who served on the 4th Circuit United States Court of Appeals after being appointed by President George H. W. Bush, Luttig suggested the former president won't get his wish and that the trial in Chutkan's courtroom will proceed after clearing a few hurdles.
As Luttig told the MSNBC host, while there are political considerations involved in starting a trial that could run through the election, there is no legal reason stopping special counsel Jack Smith from asking for the trial to start as soon as possible -- politics be damned.
RELATED: Judge Chutkan will allow the DOJ to put on a 'mini-trial' after immunity ruling: expert
"The politics of the moment will all but demand that Jack Smith forgo trial before the election, and until after the election," Luttig told the MSNBC host before adding, "But I would urge Jack Smith, in the strongest possible terms today not to yield to that cynical partisan politics, and to bring this case on for trial even in September or October," at which point Velshi blurted, "Wow,' as Luttig continued, "In the name of, and for the sake of American democracy, the Constitution and rule of law."
"Judge, is there any chance if Jack Smith hears this and takes your guidance on this that Tanya Chutkan will allow it to happen?" Velshi pressed.
"Yes, there is every chance in the world that Judge Chutkan would allow that to happen, Ali," the retired judge replied.
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MSNBC 06 30 2024 10 14 49 youtu.be
