Judge Puts Brakes On Smith In Trump Election Prosecution
In an order issued Thursday in the federal case against President Donald Trump related to the events of January 6, 2021, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan made a series of important rulings. While not entirely aligned with Trump’s requests, her decision granted the 2024 GOP frontrunner a notable partial victory.
Chutkan’s six-page order stated, “The parties shall not file any substantive pretrial motions without first seeking leave of court.” This directive comes amid the case’s pause, pending an appellate court’s decision regarding Trump’s claim of presidential immunity.
Trump’s legal team, having previously demanded that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office be held in contempt for filing court documents during the case’s pause, saw Chutkan deny that request. In her opinion, she noted that her December filing, which put a hold on the case, “did not unambiguously forbid the government’s actions.” This ruling indicates a nuanced interpretation of the judicial stay, suggesting that Biden’s prosecutors’ filings were largely in line with the order’s intent, which she thought needed some clarification.
However, Judge Chutkan’s clarification of her stay order represents a partial win for the Trump team. In her ruling, she stated, “Until the mandate is returned in this case, the parties shall not file any substantive pretrial motions without first seeking leave of court.” This condition places a new level of judicial oversight on the proceedings, potentially impacting the strategies of both sides.
The Trump campaign has responded positively to this development. Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung stated, “The DC District Court has issued a strong rebuke of Deranged Jack Smith, prohibiting him from harassing President Trump with additional filings.”
Meanwhile, the central question in the case relates to the trial’s start date. Set for March 4, there are growing concerns about whether this timeline will hold, especially as President Trump is now asking the appellate courts for a ruling that he is immune to prosecution, in that any alleged wrongs occurred while he was in office. Of course, he maintains that he did nothing illegal in any event.
Judge Chutkan, while not explicitly altering the trial date, hinted that a delay is likely necessary. She emphasized that the court would not set deadlines based on assumptions about Trump’s team’s preparations during the pause for the appellate court’s rulings.
Chutkan’s ruling underscores the complexity of the ongoing legal battle in the highly politicized prosecution of President Trump and points out how desperate Democrats are to begin the circus of a public trial in advance of this year’s general election.
