A significant domestic violence case against a key adviser to Donald Trump's presidential campaign has been unexpectedly dismissed by a Washington DC judge, citing critical failures by prosecutors to proceed in a timely manner.
The case against Boris Epshteyn, a longtime strategic adviser to the former president, was thrown out on procedural grounds after the DC Attorney General's office repeatedly missed deadlines to provide essential evidence to the defence.
Case Details and Allegations
The charges originated from a 2021 incident in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Epshteyn was accused of assaulting two individuals at a hotel. He was charged with one count of assaulting a police officer, one count of threatening behaviour, and two counts of domestic violence-related disorderly conduct.
Despite the severity of the allegations, the case was transferred to Washington DC last year under a special programme designed to handle cases from defendants who live in the district and require supervised release.
Judicial Reasoning for Dismissal
DC Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff ruled that prosecutors had fundamentally failed in their duty to advance the case. The DC Attorney General's office did not meet multiple court-ordered deadlines to hand over discovery materials, including police reports and witness statements, to Epshteyn's defence team.
This lack of action, the judge concluded, violated the defendant's constitutional right to a speedy trial and effectively hampered his ability to mount a proper defence.
Epshteyn's Role and Response
Boris Epshteyn is a central figure in Trump's inner circle, serving as a strategic adviser on the 2024 campaign and often acting as a liaison for communications with allied groups. Following the dismissal, his attorney emphasised that the outcome was a direct result of the prosecution's inability to substantiate the allegations with evidence.
This legal victory removes a substantial shadow from a prominent figure within the Trump campaign as the 2024 election cycle intensifies.
