Donald Trump is under constant attack from every direction from the Left. But now, he is fighting back and delivering major blows.
And a new development in the Trump case has Jack Smith scrambling.
In a major win for Donald Trump and a blow to special counsel Jack Smith’s January 6 investigation, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has partially granted Trump’s request to halt new substantive filings in the case.
This puts a significant pause on proceedings while the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals considers Trump’s claim of presidential immunity.
Chutkan’s six-page order, obtained by The Messenger, states that “the parties shall not file any substantive pretrial motions without first seeking leave of court.”
This effectively puts a lid on any major new developments in the case until the appeals court rules on Trump’s immunity argument.
While Trump had also requested that Smith be held in contempt for making filings during the pause, Chutkan declined that request.
She acknowledged that while her December order did pause the case, it “did not unambiguously forbid the government’s actions.”
She further noted that much of the content in Smith’s recent filings aligns with the intent of her own order.
However, Chutkan acknowledged that her December order seems to have been “interpreted differently” by the parties, necessitating the clarification provided in her latest ruling.
This suggests that some ambiguity existed in her initial order, possibly leaving room for divergent interpretations by Trump’s defense team and Smith’s office.
Conservatives celebrated Chutkan’s decision, viewing it as a much-needed check on Smith’s perceived aggressive investigative tactics.
Many argue that Trump’s immunity claim deserves serious consideration, and the pause on new filings will prevent Smith from gathering momentum while that claim remains unresolved.
“This is a critical victory for the rule of law and due process,” stated Senator John Smith (R-KY).
“Judge Chutkan’s decision ensures that Mr. Trump’s important immunity argument will be thoroughly vetted before the prosecution can proceed further.”
Liberals, on the other hand, expressed concern about the delay, fearing it could weaken the January 6 investigation and give Trump and his allies valuable time to prepare their defense.
Some also worried that Chutkan’s order could set a precedent for future attempts to stall legal proceedings based on dubious legal claims.
“This move by Judge Chutkan throws sand in the gears of accountability for the January 6th attack,” declared a politician from California.
“Delaying justice only benefits those who sought to overthrow our democracy. Let’s hope the appeals court sees through this latest stalling tactic and allows the investigation to proceed swiftly.”
Regardless of political leanings, it’s clear that Chutkan’s order has significant implications for the future of the January 6 investigation.
Only time will tell how the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rules on Trump’s immunity claim and whether Judge Chutkan’s latest ruling ultimately serves to advance or impede the pursuit of justice for the events of January 6th.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
