The presiding judge on Wednesday halted former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election subversion case while the Supreme Court considers whether he enjoys immunity from the charges.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan wrote in a brief three-page order that “any further proceedings that may move this case toward trial or impose additional litigation burdens on the defendant” will be postponed until the high court decides the immunity issue. .
However, Chutkan emphasized that the partial gag order he imposed on Trump, 77, would remain in effect, writing: “if a criminal defendant could circumvent those critical safeguards simply by asserting immunity and then appealing his denial, then during the pending appeal, the defendant could irreparably damage any future proceedings and their participants.”
The gag order, which was reduced by the federal appeals court in DC last week, restricts Trump’s ability to rhetorically “target” known or “reasonably foreseeable” witnesses.
Donald Trump’s legal team has been eager to delay the March 4, 2024 trial date set in the case. Getty Images Tanya Chutkan acknowledged that the 2020 election case against Donald Trump is on hold for now. AP
“The defendant does not appear to argue that the protective measures themselves are suspended,” Chutkan added.
“If you ask the court reviewing your immunity appeal to also assume temporary jurisdiction over the application of those measures, and that court agrees to do so, this court, of course, will be bound by that decision.”
Earlier this month, Chutkan denied Trump’s attempt to dismiss the case entirely based on presidential immunity. Ahead of an early appeal by Trump, special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court to rule on the matter by Dec. 18 in a bid to keep the trial on track to begin March 4.
Jack Smith is leading the Justice Department’s two criminal cases against Donald Trump. AP
The judges have given Trump’s legal team until December 20 to respond.
“If jurisdiction is returned to this court, the court, consistent with its duty to ensure a speedy and fair trial for all parties, will consider at that time whether to maintain or continue the dates of … the trial,” he wrote.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung called the decision “a major victory for President Trump and our rule of law, as it derails deranged Jack Smith’s rash strategy to interfere in the 2024 presidential election in support of Joe Biden’s campaign.
“They waited almost three years to file this ‘case’ of deception and now they are desperately trying, unsuccessfully, to speed it up because they know President Trump is dominating the election,” Cheung added. “The Constitution should not be suspended in an unfounded trial against the main candidate for the presidency. This suspension stops the trial itself and all discovery obligations. The suspension will remain in effect as long as President Trump continues to appeal his claim of presidential immunity, which should result in the complete dismissal of this witch hunt. “The American people, not the courts, should decide who becomes president, and they are supporting President Trump in historic numbers.”
Trump, who faces a four-count indictment in the case, has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
The Supreme Court also agreed Wednesday to take up a separate case challenging the scope of the statute prohibiting obstruction of official proceedings, one of the four charges against Trump.
The 45th president also faces 87 other charges spanning three more criminal cases.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn