Former US President Donald Trump’s trial on charges of election subversion has hit a snag as a federal judge, Tanya Chutkan, decided to postpone proceedings indefinitely to allow for Trump’s ongoing appeal. Initially scheduled for March 4, the trial now faces an uncertain timeline. The case centers on Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, where he contends he should be immune from criminal charges due to his status as a sitting president during the contested period.
The delay could extend for months, pending the outcome of Trump’s appeal. A three-judge federal appeals panel is currently deliberating Trump’s argument asserting presidential immunity from prosecution for actions during their term, even post-office. A verdict may be reached as early as next week, with expectations that the case may eventually reach the conservative-leaning US Supreme Court, holding a 6-3 majority.
Legal experts emphasize the potential impact on the American presidency, questioning the permissible actions of officeholders. 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 citizens’ rights, all related to his alleged efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
Trump, aged 77, vehemently denies any wrongdoing, portraying the legal actions as politically motivated persecution by the Justice Department and the Biden administration. Apart from the election subversion case, he faces three other criminal trials. These include charges related to attempts to influence the 2020 election in Georgia, mishandling classified documents after leaving office, and an alleged hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
The delay in the federal election subversion case means that Trump’s first criminal trial, scheduled for March 25 in New York, will revolve around the alleged 2016 hush-money payments. As legal battles intensify, Trump continues to assert his innocence across multiple fronts, setting the stage for a complex and protracted legal saga.