US Judge Pauses Trump 2020 Election Case After His Major Victory

Photo : Reuters

On Friday, a U.S. judge granted a request to pause pending deadlines in the criminal case against former President Donald Trump related to his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The decision came after federal prosecutors, led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, stated they were dealing with an "unprecedented circumstance" given Trump’s impending return to the White House.

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U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., approved the request to set aside deadlines while prosecutors and the Justice Department assess how to proceed with the case. The court order noted that the prosecution needed time to consider the impact of Trump’s potential return to the presidency on the case’s future.

In a filing, prosecutors argued that the delay was necessary "to afford the Government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy." The policy referred to by the prosecutors dates back to the 1970s, which holds that a sitting president cannot be criminally prosecuted. This raises significant questions about how the case, which accuses Trump of attempting to subvert the election results, will be handled if he is once again elected president.

A source familiar with the case told Reuters on Wednesday that the Justice Department is currently engaged in discussions about how to bring the case to a close, as Trump prepares to resume his role as president. Trump, who is running for office again in 2024, has pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 election. These charges stem from his alleged role in conspiring to obstruct the certification of votes following his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump’s actions culminated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which was instigated after a speech he gave near the White House, urging supporters to contest the election results. The case has drawn considerable attention as it represents a significant challenge to the former president’s attempts to hold onto power, and the delay in the legal proceedings raises further complications regarding his future political career.

In the most recent election, held earlier this week, Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, a victory that is expected to have an impact on ongoing federal cases against him. His win in the election likely removes two major federal cases from his legal docket, as the cases were based on events related to his actions while in office.

Trump’s legal team had been set to respond by November 21 to a motion from Smith’s office arguing that the election subversion case should proceed, despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling granting former presidents broad immunity from prosecution for official actions taken while in office. However, the court now has more time to assess how to proceed, as the Justice Department works to determine its next steps.

The judge has ordered that prosecutors inform the court by December 2 about how they plan to move forward with the case. The delay leaves many questions unanswered about how the legal system will handle Trump’s actions, especially if he returns to the White House in 2025. The decision to pause deadlines in this high-profile case reflects the complex legal issues surrounding a former president seeking re-election while facing serious criminal charges.