Trump to challenge special counsel appointment in documents case

Donald Trump continues his legal assault Friday on the criminal case accusing the former U.S. president of mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House, when his lawyers challenge the appointment of the prosecutor in the case.

Trump's lawyers during three days of hearings are also expected to argue against imposing a gag order on the Republican presidential candidate over his baseless claim that a standard FBI use-of-force policy included in papers related to the search of his Florida property for the documents was an authorization for them to assassinate him.

Trump's Republican allies in Congress have also voiced criticism of the appointment and funding of Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the classified documents prosecution and a second criminal case in Washington accusing Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat.