The federal case accusing Donald Trump of interference in the 2020 election has been temporarily suspended, as ordered by Judge Tanya Chutkan. This suspension allows higher courts to review an appeal by the former president, who claims immunity from the charges. The limited gag order against Trump remains in effect, but the trial date of March 4 may need to be rescheduled.
Donald Trump, 77, faces federal charges related to an alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election results, and the legal battle revolves around his argument that former presidents cannot be criminally charged for actions related to their official duties.
Judge Halt Trump in Election Meddling Case (Credits: The New York Times)
This argument was initially rejected by a lower court judge earlier in the month, prompting Trump to appeal and leading to the current pause as the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit considers the question of immunity.
The special counsel overseeing the investigations into Trump, Jack Smith, also requested a speedy ruling from the US Supreme Court on the immunity question, a request that the top court has agreed to consider. Smith has further asked the DC Circuit to expedite its consideration of Trump’s appeal, and the court has consented.
In response to Smith’s fast-track request, Trump’s lawyers compared the special counsel to Dr. Seuss’ Christmas-hating Grinch, arguing that the proposed schedule would require continuous work through the holidays, disrupting family and travel plans.
They presented the situation as if the special counsel were saying, “‘I must find some way to keep Christmas from coming. … But how?'”
