The trial was originally scheduled to begin on March 4, just one day before the so-called Super Tuesday, when primary elections are held in most US states.
In the United States, a federal judge Tanya Chutkan has appointed a former president Donald Trump’s the trial on the attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election result to be postponed.
The trial was originally scheduled to begin on March 4, just one day before the so-called Super Tuesday, when more than a dozen states hold presidential primaries.
The new trial start date is not known.
In the background, the appeal regarding Trump’s immunity from prosecution
The reason behind the postponement is Trump’s complaint that he would have full immunity from prosecution for crimes he allegedly committed during his presidency. The appeal is still pending in a federal appeals court.
In early December, Trump’s lawyers asked the appeals court to review Chutkan’s ruling that Trump does not have full immunity for his actions and statements after the 2020 presidential election.
Special Prosecutor Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court for a direct ruling on whether the former president has immunity from prosecution for crimes he allegedly committed during his presidency.
However, the Supreme Court decided in late December that it would not take a position on Trump’s claim of immunity from prosecution until the lower appeals court’s decision. With the decision of the Supreme Court, the processing of the case could have been speeded up.
If the appeals court finds that Trump does not have immunity from prosecution, Trump is expected to appeal the decision, further delaying the start of the trial.
Sources: Reuters, AP