Prosecutors Get More Time After Supreme Court Ruling in Trump Case
- Prosecutors in the Trump case have received additional time to formulate their arguments following a ruling from the Supreme Court.
- Judge Tanya Chutkan has allowed this extension in response to an 'unprecedented' decision.
- This development highlights ongoing legal battles faced by the former president.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has requested a three-week delay in the election interference case against Donald Trump, following a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential immunity. The case, which accuses Trump of orchestrating a "criminal scheme" to overturn the 2020 election results, has been on hold since February, awaiting the Supreme Court's decision on Trump's claim of immunity for actions taken while in office. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges. In a joint status filing, Smith's office indicated that they are still evaluating the implications of the Supreme Court's ruling and consulting with other Department of Justice components. They emphasized the need for additional time to formulate a comprehensive proposal for the court regarding the schedule for pretrial proceedings. Trump's legal team, which has consistently sought delays, did not oppose this latest request. Judge Tanya Chutkan has agreed to the proposed changes, extending the deadline for a joint status report from August 9 to August 30, and rescheduling a status conference from August 16 to September 5. A forthcoming "mini-trial" will assess the Supreme Court's ruling, particularly whether Trump's actions related to the "stolen election" narrative fall within his official presidential duties or are deemed a personal endeavor. Legal experts have expressed concern over the ambiguity of the Supreme Court's verdict, and some speculate that Smith's request for a delay may reflect internal disagreements about the best path forward in the case.