WASHINGTON – A U.S. District Judge has delayed all filing deadlines in President-elect Donald Trump’s election interference case. Federal prosecutors are preparing to drop the charges, citing established Department of Justice (DOJ) policy.
On Friday, Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the order after DOJ sources revealed special counsel Jack Smith’s intent to halt proceedings. The decision reflects a DOJ guideline against prosecuting a sitting president.
Special counsel Smith submitted a filing on Friday, requesting the court vacate all remaining deadlines. This would allow the government time to review the unprecedented circumstances and act according to DOJ policies.
“The Government respectfully requests that the Court vacate the remaining deadlines in the pretrial schedule,” Smith wrote. “This will allow time to assess this unprecedented situation and determine the appropriate next steps under Department of Justice policy.”
Trump Campaign Pushes for Dismissal
Following news of the potential withdrawal, the Trump campaign released a statement urging immediate dismissal of all charges.
“President Trump has been re-elected by the American people with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again,” said campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung. “Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system. As President Trump said in his victory speech, now is the time to unite the country and move forward together.”
Trump’s supporters insist the case violates DOJ policy against prosecuting a sitting president. They argue the charges should be dismissed entirely to respect these guidelines.
DOJ Prepares for Case Withdrawal
The DOJ is expected to finalize its course of action in the coming weeks. Both federal cases against Trump face impending deadlines, complicating the process.
Trump faces charges in Washington, D.C., for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results and obstructing Congress’s certification of Electoral College votes on January 6, 2021. Judge Chutkan had been reviewing whether Trump could claim immunity under a Supreme Court decision from July.
In a separate case, Trump was indicted for allegedly retaining classified documents after leaving office. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed these charges, ruling Smith’s appointment as special counsel invalid. However, the DOJ has since appealed that decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
