Judge Tanya Chutkan removed the planned March 4 start from her calendar, formalizing a delay that had become increasingly likely in recent weeks. It remains unclear when the trial might start.

The federal judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trump’s prosecution on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election issued an order on Friday scrapping the March 4 trial date for the case.

The order by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan was a formal confirmation of what had seemed fairly obvious for weeks. It came after she had made a series of veiled hints that she was going to delay the trial as Mr. Trump pursues an effort to have the underlying charges tossed out with an argument that he enjoys complete immunity from prosecution.

In her order, Judge Chutkan said that she would set a new date for the proceeding in Federal District Court in Washington “if and when” Mr. Trump’s immunity claims are resolved.

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  • breadsmasher@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    If trump is immune from all criminal charges for the sole reason of being, or having been, president, then this would apply to all current and future presidents.

    If trump is immune, so is clinton, bush, obama and biden.

    Presidents could have any political opponents assassinated.

    By the time of the night of the long knives, hitler was effectively immune from all prosecution.

    By the time of the soviet purges, stalin was effectively immune.

    If this case allows a president complete immunity, its a huge step towards a dictatorship.

    If presidents are immune, why would they ever give up power? Trump winning this case could mean he is never president again because biden could just, stop the election and purge anyone who challenges him.