U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan approved a request from special counsel Jack Smith to delay proposing next steps in the government’s election interference case against former President Donald Trump until Aug. 30. This decision came after prosecutors requested more time to assess the implications of a Supreme Court decision on Trump’s immunity. The defense did not object to the extension. The deadline for submitting a joint status report was moved to Aug. 30, and the status conference was rescheduled to Sept. 5, ensuring that the trial would not happen before Election Day on Nov. 5.
Trump and his legal team have been seeking to delay proceedings in order to run out the clock before the election or get the charges dismissed. Chutkan recently denied a motion from Trump to dismiss the election interference indictment, filed before the Supreme Court decision. The special counsel’s office is still finalizing its position on the schedule for pretrial proceedings.
This development highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump and the efforts to hold him accountable for election interference. The extension granted by Judge Chutkan gives both parties more time to prepare for the next steps in the case.
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