As former President Donald Trump faces another day on trial in a New York courtroom, one of his closest allies in Congress – and a potential vice-presidential contender – is coming to his defense in the federal 2020 election interference case against him.
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik has filed a complaint against special counsel Jack Smith over his January 6 case, citing election interference, according to the letter obtained by CNN.
Stefanik, a top GOP fundraiser whose name remains on Trump’s shortlist as a potential vice president, has emerged as one of Trump’s staunchest allies. The complaint is one of a number Stefanik has filed in Trump’s various legal cases, as she jockeys to show her allegiance to the former president amid his search for a potential running mate.
In December, Stefanik filed a complaint against US District Court Judge Beryl Howell, who oversaw several January 6-related cases and has ruled against Trump’s lawyers. Earlier this year, the New York congresswoman filed a complaint against New York Attorney General Letitia James over her civil fraud case against Trump.
The newest complaint calls for an ethics investigation into Smith and echoed Trump’s rhetoric that the cases brought by the Department of Justice are political, alleging Smith had abused “the resources of the federal government” to “unlawfully interfere with the 2024 presidential election.”
“At every turn, he has sought to accelerate his illegal prosecution of President Trump for the clear (if unstated) purpose of trying him before the November election,” Stefanik said in a statement.
The complaint comes ahead of a donor retreat in Florida this weekend, where Stefanik and other potential vice-presidential candidates will be featured as special guests.
The list includes Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Marco Rubio, Tim Scott and JD Vance among others. Trump routinely floats names to allies and donors, often asking for their opinions on potential candidates.
