In a significant turn of events, former President Donald Trump has triumphed in the 2024 presidential election, which could potentially shield him from his ongoing criminal trials.
On Friday, federal Judge Tanya Chutkan approved a motion to pause the deadlines in Trump’s Washington, D.C. prosecution.
Criminal Charges Overview
Trump faces four felony counts stemming from his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, a contest he lost to President Joe Biden.
He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, entering a plea of not guilty.
Earlier this summer, Trump scored a crucial win in the U.S. Supreme Court, which interpreted the concept of presidential immunity broadly.
His attorneys aimed to leverage this ruling to dismiss the charges against him.
However, after the election result, Special Counsel Jack Smith asked Judge Chutkan to pause the proceedings while the Department of Justice considers its next steps.
Future Legal Considerations
While the case remains open, many believe the Department of Justice may ultimately decide against pursuing charges against a former president who is poised for a return to office.
Legal experts within the DOJ suggest that prosecuting Trump could interfere with the executive branch’s constitutional duties.
Smith plans to update Judge Chutkan on the DOJ’s decision by December 2.
Additional Legal Challenges
In addition to the D.C. charges, Trump is grappling with three other criminal cases.
One of these, based in Florida, concerns allegations of mishandling classified documents.
The DOJ’s conclusions regarding the Washington case are likely to impact the Florida proceedings.
Trump also faces two state-level prosecutions.
Earlier this year, he was convicted on 34 felony counts in New York, making him the first president with a felony conviction.
A jury concluded that he had falsified business records to conceal a payment made to an adult film actress before the 2016 election.
Additionally, Trump is dealing with legal issues in Georgia regarding alleged interference in the electoral process during the 2020 elections.
His legal team is expected to pursue dismissals for both state cases.
In a related note, two Republican congressmen reached out to Special Counsel Smith last Friday, demanding the preservation of all documents related to Trump’s federal prosecutions.
This action signals Congress’s aim to closely monitor the Special Counsel’s activities in the upcoming session.
Following the recent elections, the Republican Party has regained control of the Senate and is anticipated to maintain its House majority, although some election results are still pending.
Source: News