A federal judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s criminal case related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election agreed to pause all proceedings on Friday. The decision comes as special counsel prosecutors prepare to wind down the case following Trump’s election victory.
In a one-page filing, prosecutors requested that US District Judge Tanya Chutkan vacate the remaining deadlines in the pretrial schedule, citing the need for time to assess the “unprecedented circumstance” and determine the next steps. They also announced they would reveal their plan for closing the case by December 2, 2024, ahead of Trump’s potential return to the presidency in January.
The move signals the beginning of the process to shut down two federal criminal cases against Trump. These cases involve his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and the retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving the White House.
Once Trump is sworn in as president again, internal Justice Department policy would bar any prosecution of a sitting president, rendering the charges effectively moot. The pause in the case also aims to prevent Trump from potentially firing special counsel Jack Smith, an action he has previously vowed to pursue during his presidential campaign.
The Justice Department is still evaluating how to proceed, particularly in regard to the classified documents case, which was dismissed but remains under appeal. Prosecutors are concerned that failing to pursue an appeal could set a troubling precedent and hinder the future use of special counsels.
Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign has been shadowed by legal challenges, with the special counsel investigation into his handling of national security materials at Mar-a-Lago ongoing. Throughout his campaign, Trump has repeatedly told supporters that his re-election would make the charges against him disappear, reinforcing his narrative of running for “freedom.”
While Trump has successfully delayed his criminal cases, including the one involving his alleged role in a hush-money scheme to influence the 2016 election, his legal battles have not significantly impacted his political standing. He is set to be sentenced on November 26 in the New York case involving those felony counts.
