A judge will hear arguments Thursday about the potential next steps in the federal election subversion prosecution of Donald Trump in the first hearing since the Supreme Court narrowed the case by ruling that former presidents are entitled to broad immunity from criminal charges. Prosecutors and defense lawyers submitted dueling proposals late Friday before the status conference. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is presiding over the case that charges Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Trump is not expected to be present, and it was not immediately clear whether Chutkan will make any rulings Thursday.
Quick Read
- The federal election subversion case against Donald Trump is back in court on Thursday, with U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan holding a hearing to determine the next steps in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
- The hearing comes after the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents are broadly immune from criminal charges related to their official duties, which prompted special counsel Jack Smith’s team to file a revised indictment against Trump.
- Prosecutors are prepared to move forward with the case, while Trump’s defense plans to file motions to dismiss, citing a Florida judge’s ruling that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional.
- Both sides agree that a trial is unlikely to happen before the November election, given the complexity of the case and the work ahead.
- The hearing could set the path forward for the case, but it is unclear whether the judge will issue any rulings on Thursday.
The Associated Press has the story:
Trump election subversion case back in court as judge holds hearing that could set its path forward
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP) —
A judge will hear arguments Thursday about the potential next steps in the federal election subversion prosecution of Donald Trump in the first hearing since the Supreme Court narrowed the case by ruling that former presidents are entitled to broad immunity from criminal charges. Prosecutors and defense lawyers submitted dueling proposals late Friday before the status conference. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is presiding over the case that charges Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Trump is not expected to be present, and it was not immediately clear whether Chutkan will make any rulings Thursday.
Special counsel Jack Smith’s team filed a new indictment last week to strip out certain allegations against Trump, the Republican nominee for president, and comply with the Supreme Court ruling. His team said it could be ready at any time to file a legal brief laying out its position on how to apply the justices’ immunity opinion to the case. Defense lawyers said they intend to file multiple motions to dismiss the case, including one that piggybacks off a Florida judge’s ruling that said Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional. Neither side envisions a trial happening before the November election, especially given the amount of work ahead. Chutkan is tasked with determining which of the acts alleged in the indictment can remain part of the case in light of the Supreme Court opinion. The justices in July ruled that former presidents enjoy absolute immunity for the exercise of their core constitutional duties and are presumptively immune from prosecution for all other official acts.
Smith’s team responded to the ruling with a revised indictment last week that removed references to Trump’s efforts to use the law enforcement powers of the Justice Department to remain in power, an area of conduct for which the Supreme Court said Trump is immune. The case is one of two federal prosecutions against Trump. The other, charging him with illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, was dismissed in July by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. She said Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unlawful. Smith’s team has appealed that ruling. Trump’s lawyers say they intend to ask Chutkan to dismiss the election case on the same grounds.
