The Justice Department says there’s no valid basis for the judge to step aside from Trump’s DC case

By ERIC TUCKER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is challenging efforts by ex-President Donald Trump to disqualify the Washington judge presiding over the case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election. Prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smith’s team wrote in a court filing Thursday there’s “no valid basis” for U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to recuse herself. Trump’s lawyers filed a long-shot motion earlier this week urging Chutkan to step aside. Trump’s lawyers cited comments Chutkan made in sentencing hearings related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol that they say call into question whether she’s prejudged the Republican ex-president’s guilt. The Justice Department says the Trump team took Chutkan’s comments out of context.