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The ticking clock in the legal case against former President Donald Trump has been temporarily paused, as his appeal to a determination made by Judge Chutkan has put all deadlines for pretrial filings on hold. This means that Trump is currently exempt from any legal obligations or preparations leading up to the trial.
However, in a recent order, Judge Chutkan indicated that the time elapsed during Trump’s appeal would not be counted against him if the case resumes. She made it clear that she would not set deadlines assuming that Trump has been making preparations when it is not required of him. This statement suggests that the trial could potentially face delays of weeks or even months, as Trump’s attempt to dismiss the case is still pending before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Trump’s legal team argued that these filings have diverted their attention from other matters and have weakened his claim of near-absolute immunity from criminal prosecution, which Chutkan has previously rejected. Judge Chutkan also mentioned that Trump could raise additional objections to recent filings made by the prosecution once the case is sent back to her and a new schedule is set.
The spokesperson for the prosecution, Smith, declined to comment on the judge’s latest order. Legal analysts have been questioning the feasibility of the original trial date of March 4, considering the pending appeal and the anticipated efforts to seek review from the Supreme Court. However, Judge Chutkan had not previously acknowledged the certainty or likelihood of a delay.
If the delays extend beyond a few weeks, Judge Chutkan may face scheduling challenges for the trial. Currently, Trump is scheduled to go on trial on May 20 in Florida for another case brought by Smith, which accuses him of illegally retaining classified information after leaving office and refusing to return it, among other charges.
In a recent order, Judge Chutkan indicated that the time elapsed since former President Trump’s appeal will not be counted against him if the case resumes. This suggests a potential delay of weeks or months in the trial, as Trump’s bid to dismiss the case is still pending. Trump’s attorneys complained that the filings diverted their attention and undermined his claim of immunity. Chutkan also mentioned that Trump could raise objections to recent filings when the case is sent back to her. The trial date of March 4 may not be feasible due to pending appeals. Additionally, Chutkan could face scheduling challenges if the delays push the trial back by more than a few weeks, as Trump has another trial scheduled for May 20 in Florida.
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