OAN’s Daniel Baldwin
2:15 PM – Wednesday, December 13, 2023
The federal judge in former President Donald Trump’s election interference case paused proceedings until Trump’s appeal regarding possible presidential immunity gets settled.
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“The court agrees with both parties that Defendant’s appeal automatically stays any further proceedings that would move this case towards trial or impose additional burdens of litigation on Defendant,” Chutkan wrote in a three-page court filing.
While this appears to close the door on starting the trial on March 4th, 2024, the day before Super Tuesday in the Republican presidential primary, Chutkan tried to keep the possibility open.
“If jurisdiction is returned to this court, it will—consistent with its duty to ensure both a speedy trial and fairness for all parties—consider at that time whether to retain or continue the dates of any still-future deadlines and proceedings, including the trial scheduled for March 4th, 2024,” Chutkan wrote.
Special Counsel Jack Smith and his team have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to expedite consideration on whether Trump has presidential immunity in this case. Trump’s legal team is arguing that the actions he took that are under question were within the “outer perimeter” of his official responsibilities as president of the United States. Smith acknowledged that asking the high court to bypass normal procedure was “extraordinary.”
Article Three Project founder Mike Davis argued Smith was desperate to keep his March 4th, 2024 trial date.
“They know that this case can only get resolved before the November 5th, 2024 election if the trial starts on March 4th,” Davis told One America News. “Because they’re going to try to have President Trump sitting in a courtroom for months and months and months instead of on the campaign trail.”
“Jack Smith does not care, because his sole goal is to wage lawfare against President Trump to put him in a courtroom before November 5th, 2024, and then put him in prison for the rest of his life after November 5th, 2024,” Davis continued.
The justices on the U.S. Supreme Court asked the Trump legal team to file a response to Smith’s petition by December 20th, suggesting they would quickly make a decision as to whether to hear the case.
Smith’s team had opposed Chutkan pausing pre-trial proceedings of the case.
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