Trump Wins, Continuation Of Legal Cases Also Makes Prosecutors Gamang

JAKARTA - A US judge postponed the deadline in the case of a subversion of the election that dragged Donald Trump into 2020.

The ruling comes after federal prosecutors said they were grappling with an "unprecedented situation" when Trump was returning to the White House.

US District Judge Tanya Chukan in Washington approved a request from Special Counsel Jack Smith, who tried the criminal case, to postpone the deadline, in accordance with a court order.

As reported by Reuters on Saturday, November 9, prosecutors wrote the delay was necessary "to give the government time to assess this unprecedented situation and determine the right direction forward in accordance with the Justice Department policy."

Based on the Justice Department's policy since the 1970s, the president in office cannot be prosecuted criminally.

Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday the Justice Department was discussing ways to resolve the case as Trump prepares to return to office.

Trump pleaded not guilty last year to four criminal charges accusing Republicans of conspiring to hinder the collection and certification of votes following his 2020 defeat to Democratic Joe Biden.

Trump's efforts and his allies to reverse Biden's victory peaked with a deadly attack on January 6, 2021 at the US Capitol Building following the president's fiery speech at the time near the White House.

In the US election, Tuesday, November 5, Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, a certain victory that would end two federal cases against him.

Trump's lawyers are scheduled to provide a response on November 21 to Smith's argument, the case could proceed once the US Supreme Court grants broad immunity to the former president of prosecution for official action taken while in office.

Smith said prosecutors would notify the judge on December 2 how they submitted a proposal to continue the case.