WASHINGTON (AP) — The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case canceled all remaining court deadlines Friday after prosecutors said they needed time to assess “the appropriate course of action moving forward” after the presidential election. Republican victory this week.
Special counsel Jack Smith accused Trump last year of plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. But Smith’s team has been evaluating how to wrap up the two federal cases before the president-elect takes office, in light of the Justice Department’s longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, a person familiar with the matter said. was with the case to The Associated Press.
Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris means the Justice Department believes he can no longer be prosecuted under the department’s legal opinions designed to protect presidents from criminal charges while in office.
In a lawsuit filed Friday in the 2020 election case, Smith’s team said it “needs time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course of action moving forward, consistent with Department of Justice policy.” ”
Smith’s team said it would inform the judge of “the outcome of his deliberations” by December 2.
