A federal judge has decided to indefinitely postpone the trial related to former US president Donald Trump’s alleged election subversion, allowing his appeal to progress through the legal system.
Initially scheduled to commence on March 4, the trial delay was announced by Judge Tanya Chutkan on Friday. The case revolves around Mr. Trump’s purported attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, with his defense arguing that he should be exempt from criminal charges due to his status as a sitting president at the time.
As the Republican frontrunner for the November election faces charges over his alleged endeavors to challenge his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden, the trial’s timeline is uncertain, potentially stretching over several months during the ongoing appeal process. A panel of three federal appeals judges is currently deliberating Mr. Trump’s assertion that presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution for potential crimes committed during their tenure, even after leaving office. A ruling may be issued as early as next week, with expectations that the case might ultimately reach the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority.
Legal experts anticipate that the outcome of this case could significantly impact the future of the American presidency, shaping the boundaries of actions permissible by an individual holding this office. The indictment includes four counts: conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against the rights of citizens.
Denying any wrongdoing, the 77-year-old Mr. Trump has consistently accused the Justice Department and the Biden administration of engaging in political persecution. In addition to the election subversion case, he faces three other criminal trials—one linked to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, another concerning mishandling of classified documents after leaving office, and a third related to an alleged hush-money payment made to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
With the federal election subversion case delayed, Mr. Trump’s initial criminal trial is now set to revolve around the alleged hush money payments from 2016, scheduled for March 25 in New York.
