Anika Begay
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers Todd Blanche (center) and Emil Bove (left) arrive at the courthouse in 2023 in Washington, D.C.
Images by Win McNamee/Getty
Hide caption
active caption
Images by Win McNamee/Getty
The Justice Department is seeking more time to review a landmark Supreme Court ruling that granted former President Donald Trump substantial immunity from prosecution, further delaying his federal election interference case.
Lawyers for special counsel Jack Smith wrote to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ahead of Friday’s deadline to request more time to develop “an informed proposal” for next steps in the four-count felony case against Trump.
Prosecutors said they had consulted with other parts of the Justice Department but needed more time to finalize their position. They proposed filing an update with the court by Aug. 30.
Trump’s defense lawyers did not oppose the delay, according to Thursday night’s filing.
If the judge approves the request, it would push pretrial proceedings in the case into late September. The former president’s prosecution has been stalled for eight months as higher courts consider Trump’s immunity from prosecution for actions he took while in the White House.
The case accuses Trump of conspiring to defraud the United States and depriving millions of voters of the right to have their 2020 ballots counted. There is now no chance the case will go to trial before Election Day in November. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
If Trump wins back the White House, he could order the Justice Department to dismiss the indictment accusing him of engaging in illegal acts that culminated in the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
More than 140 law enforcement officers were injured that day, in what the Justice Department called the largest mass casualty event for police.
