US Federal Court Indefinitely Postpones Trump’s Trial on 'Election Overturning' Charges

March 4 Scheduled Trial Date Canceled
Impact on Appeal Claiming Immunity Privilege

The trial related to former U.S. President Donald Trump's alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, which was scheduled to be held in Washington DC on March 4 (local time), has been postponed indefinitely.

According to the Associated Press and other sources, Tanya Chutkan, a judge at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, canceled the March 4 hearing regarding Trump's election refusal allegations. No new date was set, and she only stated that the court would wait for the case to return to the court.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This decision came amid Trump's claim of executive privilege, which is currently pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals, and there had been earlier speculation that the trial was likely to be delayed.

Former President Trump was indicted last August on charges including refusal to accept the 2020 U.S. presidential election results, attempts to interfere with vote counting, and incitement of the January 6 Capitol riot, but he denies all four related charges. He also requested the court to dismiss the charges, arguing that as a sitting president at the time, he had executive privilege for official acts performed during his term.

In the U.S., according to Supreme Court precedents, civil liability is exempted for official acts performed during a president's term, but it is unclear whether presidential immunity applies to criminal prosecution.

Judge Chutkan rejected Trump's dismissal request in December last year. Trump then appealed and requested that all court proceedings be stayed until a final decision is made.

The Washington DC Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on this matter on the 9th of last month, but it is uncertain when a decision will be made. However, if the request for executive privilege is rejected again, Trump's side is expected to take the case to the Supreme Court, which would inevitably cause further delays.

The trial schedule is important both for former President Trump and for Jack Smith, the federal special counsel who indicted him. The special counsel hopes to indict him before the election, but if Trump is elected while the case is pending, there is speculation that the Department of Justice might urge dismissal, and that Trump might attempt a 'self-pardon.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.