A recent Supreme Court opinion has resulted in the criminal case against former President Donald Trump being returned to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington. The case, which accuses Trump of plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, will now undergo further proceedings to determine which acts in the indictment constitute official acts.
The Supreme Court's ruling on July 1, which established that presidents have absolute immunity for core constitutional duties and are presumptively immune from prosecution for other official acts, has significantly impacted the case. Judge Chutkan will now need to decide how this opinion applies to the remaining allegations in the indictment.
The indictment, one of four criminal cases brought against Trump last year, alleges that he conspired to maintain his presidency by collaborating with aides to reverse the election results that favored Democrat Joe Biden. Key allegations, such as pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to reject the electoral votes confirming his defeat, are now under scrutiny.
Due to the complexity of the legal proceedings ahead, it is unlikely that a trial will occur before the upcoming November presidential election, in which Trump is the Republican nominee. If Trump were to win the election, he could potentially appoint an attorney general who might dismiss the case.
Another case brought against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith, involving the alleged hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, was dismissed by a judge who deemed Smith's appointment illegal. The Justice Department is currently appealing this decision.
Furthermore, Trump is facing a separate prosecution in Fulton County, Georgia, related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. However, this case has experienced significant delays, making it unlikely for a trial to proceed this year.
