Trump is seeking to halt the federal criminal case charging him with trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election. He contends that Judge Chutkan no longer has power over the case while he appeals her ruling that he is not immune from the charges he’s facing as reported by Raw Story on December 7, 2023.
Trump’s lawyers argue that he’s entitled to an “automatic stay” while he appeals Chutkan’s ruling. They have indicated that they plan to ignore upcoming deadlines in the case unless Chutkan rules otherwise.
The trial is currently set to begin on March 4, and prospective jurors have already begun receiving initial notices from the courthouse.
In her 48-page order, Judge Chutkan, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, rejected Trump’s immunity claims in the election case.
She also denied a second, more far-fetched attempt by Trump to invoke a legal shield that is typically reserved for government officials acting within the scope of their duties. Chutkan’s order paves the way for the case to proceed to trial, despite Trump’s efforts to delay the proceedings
This latest development is part of a series of legal battles surrounding Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
The case in Washington, D.C. accuses Trump of plotting to overturn his election defeat. It is separate from the ongoing criminal case in New York, where Trump and his company are facing charges of tax fraud and other financial crimes.
The reinstatement of the gag order is another significant development in the case. The order prohibits Trump from targeting the special counsel prosecuting his case or witnesses who might be called to testify about his efforts to upend his election loss.
Judge Chutkan imposed the gag order at the Justice Department’s request, and she temporarily lifted it on October 20 after Trump’s lawyers appealed.
However, she reversed that decision on Sunday evening, according to the court’s docket. Trump has criticized the gag order, claiming that it infringes on his First Amendment right to free speech.
The legal battle is likely to continue in the coming weeks and months as Trump and his legal team seek to delay the case and limit the impact of the charges against him.
The case is significant not only for its potential legal implications but also for its political ramifications. It centers on one of the most contentious and tumultuous periods in recent U.S. history, and it has the potential to shape public perceptions of Trump’s presidency and its aftermath.
