U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan paused all deadlines in Donald Trump’s election interference case. This decision follows the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) plan to withdraw charges against the president-elect.
DOJ Cites Policy Against Prosecuting Sitting Presidents
Special counsel Jack Smith signaled intentions to close both of Trump’s federal cases. This move aligns with DOJ policy, which bars prosecution of a sitting president. On Friday, Smith requested the court to cancel all remaining pretrial deadlines. He argued that the case’s unique circumstances required more time for review.
“The Government respectfully requests that the Court vacate the remaining deadlines in the pretrial schedule to afford the Government time to assess this unprecedented situation and determine the appropriate steps going forward, in alignment with Department of Justice policy,” Smith’s filing stated.
Trump Campaign Demands Case Dismissal
Trump’s campaign responded swiftly, calling for the charges to be dropped. Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung asserted that Trump’s re-election signaled public support for ending “politicization of the justice system.”
“President Trump was re-elected with an overwhelming mandate from the American people to ‘Make America Great Again,’” Cheung stated. He emphasized that Americans want the justice system to focus on uniting the nation, echoing Trump’s victory speech.
The campaign’s argument aligns with DOJ’s policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. They maintain that continuing the case violates this longstanding rule.
DOJ Faces Decision on Case’s Future
The DOJ must decide whether to continue or drop the charges against Trump. Looming deadlines in both federal cases add pressure to this decision.
In Washington, D.C., Trump faces charges of interfering with the 2020 election results and obstructing Congress’s certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021. Judge Chutkan was considering whether Trump could claim immunity from these charges under a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Trump also faces charges for retaining classified documents after his presidency. In this separate case, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed charges, citing flaws in Smith’s appointment as special counsel. The DOJ has since appealed Cannon’s decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.