Trump’s trials: Recent court delays could help the former president
Sarah D. WireMarch 1, 2024
As he campaigns for a return to the White House, former President Trump is facing criminal charges in four separate trials. He also fought two civil lawsuits that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.
Here’s what’s going on with cases as primaries ramp up across the country, and what to expect in the coming weeks:
Supreme Court reviews presidential immunity
By agreeing this week to raise a presidential immunity issue, the Supreme Court dealt a major blow to special counsel Jack Smith’s plans to prosecute Trump this spring for alleged efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election .
Originally scheduled to start
Monday, March 4,
the process may be too
now
be postponed until after the 2024 presidential elections.
The Supreme Court will hear Trump’s claim of immunity from prosecution on January 6, delaying his trial
Trial judge Tanya Chutkan rejected Trump’s claim that he was immune from criminal prosecution for “official acts” committed while in office. She said the Constitution does not give former presidents absolute immunity for their past crimes.
In December, Smith urged the Supreme Court to expedite consideration of the issue so it could be resolved in March. The judges declined and sent the question to the DC Circuit, which took until early February to rule against Trump. He quickly appealed to the Supreme Court, which announced Wednesday that it will hear arguments on the issue the week of April 22. The Supreme Court will likely wait
Unpleasant
until the end of June to issue a written ruling.
The trial is on hold until the issue of presidential immunity is resolved, and Trump’s lawyers have indicated they will need several weeks to prepare once the trial is allowed to proceed. They could even raise new objections that could further delay the process.
On top of the procedural hurdles, the Justice Department is pursuing a policy to avoid prosecutions that could affect upcoming elections and could hinder a fall trial of the expected Republicans.
presidential
nominee.
All that adds to the possibility that even if Trump loses in court, he could have already won at the ballot box.
Classified documents
Some of those other potential challenges that could arise in the 2020 election subversion process will soon be considered in the case involving Trump’s handling of classified documents and alleged attempts to prevent the government from recovering them from his Mar-a-Lago estate. He faces 41 felony charges.
On February 23, Trump’s legal team filed multiple motions to dismiss the case, including over a claim of presidential immunity, selective prosecution and challenging Smith’s appointment in the case.
Judge Eileen Cannon, who is presiding over the case,
on Tuesday
denied attempts by Trump’s co-defendants to see the classified documents they allegedly moved for him through the former president’s Florida residence. On Thursday, Cannon ruled that Trump’s legal team would not be given access to classified files filed by the special counsel’s office regarding the contents of classified documents seized by the FBI from Trump’s home.
Next: Cannon will decide whether to move the trial date to the end of May to hear the dismissal requests and accommodate Trump and his colleagues.
Co-conspirator of co-defendants //?//
desire more time to build their arguments.
A civil fraud case in New York
Meanwhile, in New York on Wednesday, Associate Justice Anil C. Singh of the New York State Supreme Courts Appellate Division denied a request by Trump to accept a $100 million bond or delay the enforcement of a fine totaling at least $450 million while he appeals. Trump’s lawyers said he may have to sell properties as a result.
In mid-February, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron found Trump and others guilty of providing false information to financial institutions and insurance companies so they could borrow money at lower rates and save on costs. Along with the fines and interest, Trump and his adult sons were banned from holding top positions at New York companies for years.
Trump’s lawyers have filed a notice saying they plan to appeal Engoron’s decision, but to do so Trump must post bail for the full amount of the judgment.
Engoron’s decision followed a separate $83.3 million judgment against Trump for defaming columnist E. Jean Carroll while he was president.
New York judge refuses to halt Trump’s $454 million fine during appeal of fraud verdictNew York hush money case
Now that the Supreme Court has postponed the presidential immunity issue, the first felony case Trump is expected to face will center on whether he falsified company records to secure the $130,000 payment to his lawyer Michael Cohen in the final days of to cover up the 2016 campaign. Adult film actor Stormy Daniels for her silence about a 2006 sexual encounter she said she had with Trump.
Jury selection is scheduled for March 25. Last month, prosecutors asked Judge Juan Manuel Merchan to ban Trump from making public statements or directing others to make public statements about potential witnesses and jurors, as well as statements intended to hinder court personnel and the prosecution or harass. team or their families.
Manhattan district attorney wants Trump gag order and plays ‘Access Hollywood’ tape during trial in Georgia election subversion case
We will soon know if Trump and his co-conspirators are successful in their efforts to disqualify Fulton County Dist.
rict
Att
orne
j. Fani Willis and Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade have not filed charges against them
their Willis and Wade’s
personal relationship.
After a whirlwind seven weeks of hearings filled with salacious details, text messages and fiery appeals, Judge Scott McAfee will hear closing arguments
on
Friday
today March 1
on whether the relationship warrants disqualifying the entire DA’s office from filing charges against Trump and his supporters
evidently
trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
This is the only state-level case Trump faces in connection with his efforts to cling to power after the defeat by Joe Biden. Willis has asked for an August trial date, but subject to how the timing of the federal trials changes
,
she might ask for a date at the beginning of summer.
Times staff writer David G. Savage contributed to this article

Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.