US District Judge Tanya Chutkan put former United States President Donald Trump's election interference case on hold while the Republican businessman appealed his immunity claim.
The judge's decision is the latest development in the case. It is seen to raise the possibility that Trump's trial on charges of allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election will be postponed. Shortly after the judge's ruling, the federal appeals court in Washington granted prosecutors' request to expedite consideration of the former president's appeal.
Judge Pauses Trump's Election Interference Case
The appeals court set the deadlines for bUSs to be filed between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2 but has not yet provided an argument date. The issue is significant to both sides, given that a court ruling favoring the former president could derail the case.
This is also because a protracted appeal could lead to a significant postponement of the proceedings, including after the 2024 elections. That kind of a situation would most likely benefit Trump as he seeks to reclaim the president's office, as per the Associated Press.
Judge Chutkan's three-page order is the latest development in the dispute over the scope of presidential power. The United States Supreme Court could decide such authority for the first time in the country's history.
A campaign spokesperson for Trump called Judge Chutkan's decision to pause the election interference case a "big win for President Trump and our rule of law." Steven Cheung added that the Constitution should not be suspended in what he called a baseless prosecution against the leading candidate for the highest position in the country.
Earlier this month, the judge rejected Trump's claims that he was protected from prosecution for his actions while fulfilling his duties as the president. His lawyers then asked the Washington-based appeals court to review the decision and urged the judge to pause the case.
Despite her ruling, Judge Chutkan said that the pause does not prevent her from enforcing measures she has already imposed to "safeguard the integrity of these proceedings." These include the limited gag order against Trump and his conditions of release, according to CNN.
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Trump's Immunity Claim
The judge argued that if any defendant could bypass such safeguards by simply claiming immunity and appealing its denial, the individual could cause irreparable harm to future proceedings and their participants.
Earlier this week, special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court to skip over the federal appeals court to decide fundamental issues in the Trump election interference case quickly.
In a separate move on Wednesday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear another case that could have a bearing on Trump's prosecution. The high court will consider whether or not the former president and hundreds of people who were prosecuted in relation to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill siege can be charged over obstruction or impediment of an official proceeding.
In the election interference case, achieving a victorious decision in the appeal of his immunity claim has been one of Trump's goals. Some argue that the other strategy he and his lawyer have is delaying the trial for as long as possible, said the New York Times.
