Former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election subversion case was halted by a presiding judge Wednesday while the Supreme Court considered whether he enjoys immunity from the charges.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan wrote in a brief three-page order that “any further proceedings that would move this case toward trial or impose an additional litigation burden on the defendant” would be stayed until the immunity question is decided by the high court.
However, Chutkan emphasized that the partial oral order he imposed on the 77-year-old Trump would remain in effect, writing, “if a criminal defendant can circumvent those critical protections simply by asserting immunity and then appealing the denial, then during pending appeals, the defendant could harm any future proceedings and their participants.”
The gag order, struck down by a federal appeals court for DC last week, restricts Trump’s ability to rhetorically “target” known or “reasonably foreseeable” witnesses.
Donald Trump’s legal team is eager to postpone the March 4, 2024 trial date set in the case. Getty Images Tanya Chutkan admits that the 2020 election case against Donald Trump is on hold for now. AP
“Defendants do not appear to argue that the protective measure itself is upheld,” Chutkan added.
“If he asks the court to review his immunity appeal to also take temporary jurisdiction over the enforcement of those measures, and the court agrees to do so, this court will of course be bound by that decision.”
Earlier this month, Chutkan rejected Trump’s offer to drop the case altogether on the grounds of presidential immunity. Ahead of Trump’s expected appeal, special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court to rule on the matter by December 18 in an effort to keep the trial on track to begin March 4.
Jack Smith is leading two Justice Department criminal cases against Donald Trump. AP
The judge has given Trump’s legal team until December 20 to respond.
“If jurisdiction is restored to this court, it will—in accordance with its duty to ensure a speedy and fair trial for all parties—consider at that time whether to maintain or continue the date of the … trial,” he wrote.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung called the decision “a huge victory for President Trump and our rule of law, because it thwarts Deranged Jack Smith’s hasty strategy to intervene in the 2024 Presidential Election to support Joe Biden’s campaign.”
“They waited almost three years to bring this fraud ‘case’ and are now desperately trying, and failing, to rush it because they know President Trump is dominating the election,” Cheung added. “The Constitution should not be suspended in baseless prosecution of the main candidates for President. This accommodation terminates the trial itself and all discovery obligations. The suspension will remain in effect while President Trump continues to appeal his assertion of presidential immunity, which should see this witch hunt dismissed entirely. The American people, not the courts, should decide who becomes president, and they support President Trump in historic numbers.”
Trump, who faces a four-count indictment in the case, has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.
The Supreme Court also agreed Wednesday to take up a separate case challenging the scope of the statute banning obstruction of official proceedings, one of four charges against Trump.
The 45th president also faces another 87 charges including three more criminal cases.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
