A federal judge, Tanya Chutkan, has indefinitely postponed the trial of former US president Donald Trump in the election subversion case, which was originally scheduled to begin on March 4. The decision comes as Trump’s legal team continues to appeal, arguing that he should be immune from criminal charges as he was a sitting president at the time of the alleged actions.
Trump, the leading Republican candidate for the 2020 election, faces charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. His appeal contends that presidents are shielded from prosecution for actions taken while in office, even after leaving the White House. A panel of three federal appeals judges is currently reviewing this argument, with a potential ruling as early as next week.
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The case, anticipated to reach the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority, could have far-reaching implications for the future of the presidency and the permissible actions of individuals holding the office.
The indictment against Trump includes charges of conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against the rights of citizens. The former president, aged 77, vehemently denies any wrongdoing, labelling the charges as political persecution by the Justice Department and the Biden administration.
Trump is concurrently facing three other criminal trials, including allegations of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, mishandling classified documents post-office, and making a hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. With the delay in the federal election subversion case, Trump’s first criminal trial, focused on the alleged 2016 hush money payments, is now scheduled for March 25 in New York.
