Judge pauses Donald Trump’s 2020 election case after US election victory

A US judge on Friday set aside pending deadlines in US president-elect Donald Trump’s 2020 election subversion case after federal prosecutors said they were grappling with the “unprecedented circumstance” of his impending return to the White House.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington approved a request from Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is prosecuting the criminal case, to set aside the deadlines, according to a court order, while they weigh its future.

Prosecutors wrote the delay was necessary “to afford the government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy”.

Under a US Justice Department policy dating back to the 1970s, a sitting president cannot be subject to criminal prosecution.

A source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday that the Justice Department was discussing how to wind down the case as Trump prepares to again assume the presidency.

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