WASHINGTON – The trial of former President Donald Trump, scheduled for March in Washington, has been postponed as a federal judge awaits the resolution of a key legal appeal from Trump. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan vacated the March 4 trial date in the case brought by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, but has not set a new date. This delay provides an opening for a separate prosecution in New York to proceed first, charging Trump in connection with hush money payments to a porn actor. This case is seen as potentially less legally perilous compared to accusations of mishandling classified documents or plotting to subvert a presidential election.
The postponement in Washington comes as a federal appeals court has yet to resolve a pending appeal from Trump arguing that he is immune from prosecution for actions he took in the White House. This delay is significant for both sides, as Trump, who faces multiple indictments and felony counts, seeks to push his criminal cases back while maintaining front-runner status in the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race. Meanwhile, Smith’s team hopes to prosecute Trump this year before the November election.
The Washington case was expected to take place first but has been delayed for weeks by Trump’s appeal on grounds of immunity from prosecution. The judge in the New York case, the first of the four indictments filed against Trump last year, has resisted postponing the March 25 start date, anticipating changes in the former president’s legal calendar as the trial nears. All indications point to the New York case starting on time, involving steps Trump allegedly took to hide payments made on his behalf to suppress damaging stories before his 2016 election win.
Critics and rival campaign aides have long expressed concern that the Manhattan District Attorney’s indictment was the first, potentially blunting the impact of more serious charges that followed. Additionally, Trump faces numerous felony charges in Florida, accusing him of illegally retaining classified documents, with a trial set for May 20. Another case in Georgia, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, accuses him of plotting to overturn the state’s 2020 election, with no trial date set yet. This legal saga continues to unfold amidst ongoing political and legal battles as Trump’s legal team seeks to navigate through multiple legal hurdles.