Donald Trump’s federal election interference case will not move forward for a while after Judge Tanya Chutkan granted special counsel Jack Smith’s motion to vacate outstanding deadlines in the case due to the “unprecedented circumstance” of Trump’s election victory.
In a filing on Friday, Smith pointed out that Trump, the defendant, will be certified as president-elect on January 6, 2025, and inaugurated on January 20. In light of the impending change in Trump’s status, Smith asked that Chutkan suspend all remaining trial deadlines to give his office “time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course of action moving forward.” consistent with Department of Justice policy.” Smith said his office would notify the court of the conclusion by Dec. 2.
The Justice Department has long had a policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
Trump’s defense team did not object to the request, and Chutkan granted the motion shortly afterwards.
Smith’s request comes just two days after Trump was projected as the winner of the 2024 election, and amid reports that the Justice Department is investigating the conclusion of the two federal criminal cases against the president-elect. As my MSNBC colleague Jordan Rubin noted, it is unlikely that the federal cases against Trump will move forward as he is set to return to the White House, nor is it likely that the proceedings in his state cases in New York and Georgia will continue as long as he is in the White House. in the office. Trump has denied wrongdoing in all his criminal cases.
Smith was a top target for Trump because of his leading role in the prosecution in the president-elect’s two federal cases. Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to punish his rivals if he returns to the White House, said just days before the election that he would fire Smith “in two seconds” if he were to run for president again. And some members of Trump’s inner circle, including tech billionaire Elon Musk and attorney Mike Davis, have called for Smith to be prosecuted.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
