In a new court filing, special counsel Jack Smith provided further details on the evidence he plans to present in the trial against former President Donald Trump, set to take place in federal court early next year. Smith charged Trump with four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding, relating to his alleged efforts to resist the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election.

Prosecutors revealed their intention to use historical evidence of events occurring before and after the alleged conspiracy to demonstrate Trump's motives, intent, and knowledge. They plan to include Trump's history of denying the election results and his support of high-profile defendants involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Prosecutors argue that Trump's "embrace of particularly violent and notorious rioters" after the attack is admissible to establish his motive and intent leading up to that day. They claim that Trump knowingly sent his supporters, including groups like the Proud Boys, to the Capitol to obstruct the certification of the election results.

Smith's team focused on Trump's comments supporting former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio, who was convicted earlier this year of seditious conspiracy tied to the Capitol attack. Prosecutors pointed to a September 2023 interview in which Trump stated that Tarrio and others had been treated horribly.

The filing also revealed that prosecutors obtained evidence regarding an unnamed Trump 2020 campaign staffer who allegedly encouraged rioting and obstruction at a Detroit vote-counting center. Prosecutors plan to use this evidence to prove that Trump knew he had lost the election but pushed to obstruct and overturn the legitimate results.

Trump's campaign spokesman Steven Cheung accused Smith of perverting justice by including claims not found in the indictment. Cheung stated that Trump would continue to speak out against corruption and weaponized law enforcement.

The indictment against Trump alleges that he engaged in a pattern of baseless claims of fraud to oppose the transition of power. Prosecutors plan to show jurors social media posts and language dating back to 2012 and 2016 to demonstrate Trump's propensities and refusal to accept the election results.

The trial is currently scheduled for March 4, 2024, and will be presided over by Judge Tanya Chutkan, who ruled that Trump cannot be shielded from criminal prosecution after leaving office.

In a separate ruling earlier on Friday, a federal appeals court also rejected Trump's claim of immunity from civil lawsuits related to the events of January 6.

Trump Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized the ruling, stating that Democrats were trying to interfere in the 2024 Presidential Election and undermine constitutional principles. The appeals court's opinion stated that Trump is not entitled to immunity for his actions leading up to and on January 6.

Overall, the court filings and rulings provide insight into the evidence and legal arguments that will be presented in the upcoming trial against Trump. The trial will be closely watched as it could have significant implications for the accountability of former presidents and the perception of the January 6 Capitol attack.