The federal judge overseeing former President Trump’s confidential documents case granted his request to further delay some deadlines so prosecutors can weigh in on the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling.
Trump’s lawyers on Friday asked Judge Aileen Cannon for permission to present more documents to argue that the former president should be immune from prosecution in the case.
In its motion this week, Trump’s team proposed a timetable that extends until early September, meaning a decision would not be made until at least the fall.
On Saturday, Cannon, a Trump appointee, said prosecutors and special counsel Jack Smith had until July 18 to respond to Trump’s argument requesting a delay, The New York Times reported.
Cannon also postponed two deadlines in the case, which is expected to cause only a small delay.
The former president pleaded not guilty in the case.
Trump’s lawyers say the recent Supreme Court ruling granting presidents protections for official acts should be applied to the case, in which he is accused of mishandling confidential records and trying to prevent the government from recovering them after leaving office. office.
The former president’s team asked Cannon to put the case on hold except for the pending gag order request. His attorneys also noted Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion in the Supreme Court decision, where he questioned the motivations and authority of special prosecutor Jack Smith.
Smith argued that the consequences of the Supreme Court ruling do not apply to the documents case because he did not accuse Trump of any official acts. Prosecutors said the documents were taken and he tried to stop the FBI from obtaining them at his Mar-a-Lago residence after he was already out of power.
The 6-3 ruling, along ideological lines, dismantles part of Smith’s prosecution of Trump, but prosecutors largely rejected the idea that the case should be dismissed entirely.
There is no trial date set in the case. Cannon came under fire after indefinitely suspending the trial’s start date after saying she needed more time to consider pretrial motions filed by Trump’s team asking her to drop the case.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
