Special Counsel Jack Smith Asks for More Time to ‘Assess’ Supreme Court’s Immunity Ruling as Trump Demands ‘Total Dismissal’ of 2020 Election Case
Special Counsel Jack Smith requested more time on Thursday to respond to a scheduling order from the judge handling Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case, indicating that his office is still grappling with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the former president’s immunity case — nearly a month later.
“The Government continues to assess the new precedent set forth last month in the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. United States, including through consultation with other Department of Justice components,” prosecutors wrote to Judge Tanya Chutkan in a status report filed with the DC District Court.
“Although those consultations are well underway, the Government has not finalized its position on the most appropriate schedule for the parties to brief issues related to the decision,” Smith’s office said.
“The Government therefore respectfully requests additional time to provide the Court with an informed proposal regarding the schedule for pretrial proceedings moving forward.”
The Supreme Court ruled on July 1 that Trump, 78, is subject to absolute immunity from prosecution for “official acts” during his presidency and left it up to lower courts to sort out what constitutes an “official act” by a sitting president. (Read more from “Special Counsel Jack Smith Asks for More Time to ‘Assess’ Supreme Court’s Immunity Ruling as Trump Demands ‘Total Dismissal’ of 2020 Election Case” HERE)
