Federal judge indefinitely postpones Trump’s election meddling trial
A federal judge has postponed the trial regarding the alleged subversion of the election involving former US president Donald Trump while his appeal progresses through the court system.
Originally scheduled to commence on March 4th, the trial’s start date has been put on hold indefinitely, as announced by Judge Tanya Chutkan on Friday.
The case centers on Mr. Trump’s purported attempts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election. His legal team contends that he should be exempt from criminal charges due to his status as a sitting president at the time of the alleged actions.
Charged last year, Trump, the leading Republican contender for the presidency in the upcoming November election, faces accusations related to his efforts to reverse his 2020 defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.
The trial could face a prolonged delay as the appellate process unfolds. Currently, a panel of three federal appeals judges deliberates Trump’s assertion that presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution for potential crimes committed while in office, even after their tenure concludes. A decision from the panel could emerge as early as the following week.
Anticipated to eventually reach the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority, the case’s outcome carries significant implications for the future conduct of American presidents.
The indictment comprises four charges: conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against the rights of citizens.
Maintaining his innocence, the 77-year-old Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, decrying the Justice Department and the Biden administration for what he perceives as politically motivated persecution.
In addition to the election subversion case, Trump faces three other criminal trials. One pertains to alleged endeavors to overturn the 2020 election outcome in Georgia, another concerns purported mishandling of classified documents post-presidency, and the third relates to an alleged payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in a hush-money arrangement.
With the federal election subversion case deferred, Trump’s initial criminal trial will focus on the alleged 2016 hush money payments, scheduled for March 25th in New York.
