Republican presidential candidate and former US President Trump attended the first presidential debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on June 27, 2024.
Marco Bello | Reuters
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Saturday granted former President Donald Trump’s request for further briefings on presidential immunity issues in the Mar-a-Lago confidential documents case and delayed a Some deadlines.
Cannon’s order marks the latest fallout from Monday’s Supreme Court presidential immunity decision, which ruled that Trump is immune from certain actions as president in a federal election interference case.
In the order, Cannon gave special prosecutor Jack Smith the right, but not the obligation, to submit submissions regarding the use of confidential information in the trial. At the same time, she suspended two looming deadlines for Trump and his co-defendants.
Smith’s brief will be submitted on July 18, and the Trump team will respond on July 21.
Neither Trump’s lawyers nor the Justice Department immediately responded to requests for comment Saturday afternoon.
There is currently no trial date in the confidential documents case. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The latest development comes after Trump’s lawyers asked Cannon on Friday to pause court proceedings and consider how the Supreme Court’s ruling affects the case. The Trump campaign also filed a motion in February to dismiss the indictment on immunity grounds.
Saturday’s order also makes Trump’s team busier — at least in the short term — as it seeks to minimize or outright dismiss two of three other pending criminal cases against him.
Judge Juan Merchant, who presided over Trump’s criminal hush money trial earlier this year, passed an order earlier this week to postpone Trump’s July 11 sentencing hearing in order to hear Trump’s request to dismiss the trial. Briefing on Motion for Judgment.
Trump’s brief, expected to be filed on July 11, will focus on evidence involving official actions he admitted during the trial to prove his knowledge and intent. Submission will be July 24th.
