judge vacates upcoming deadlines against Trump in 2020 election case

The judge in Donald Trump's trial for illegal attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election canceled all deadlines on the case's calendar on Friday after a request from the special prosecutor, auguring a likely suspension of the proceedings. Recalling that the president-elect must be inaugurated on January 20, special prosecutor Jack Smith motivated his request by the need to give the prosecution “the time to analyze this unprecedented situation and determine the course of action to follow in accordance with the policy of the Ministry of Justice”.

He specifies that he will present “the result of its deliberations” by December 2. The special prosecutor and the Department of Justice began discussions on Wednesday with a view to stopping the federal prosecution against Donald Trump initiated by Jack Smith, several American media reported. Asked by AFP, the ministry declined to comment.

No prosecutions until 2029

But the department has had a policy for more than 50 years of not prosecuting a sitting president. The situation of a presidential candidate being criminally prosecuted and then elected is unprecedented, but most legal commentators expect an extension of this policy to the case of Donald Trump, which would allow him to escape federal prosecution until the end of his new mandate.

Back in the White House, he could either appoint a new Justice Minister who would fire Jack Smith or simply order his Justice Department to drop the charges against him.