The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal related to the obstruction charges stemming from the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. This decision could potentially delay the federal trial of former President Donald Trump. Trump, along with over 300 others, faces charges of obstructing an official proceeding by attempting to disrupt Congress' certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of working to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
According to Newsweek, the trial, initially scheduled to begin on March 4, may now be postponed due to the Supreme Court's decision to hear arguments in March or April, with a ruling expected by early summer. If the trial is delayed until after the November 2024 election and Trump wins, he could potentially order the Department of Justice to dismiss the charges.
The Supreme Court is also separately considering a request to rule quickly on Trump's claim of presidential immunity, which argues that he cannot be prosecuted for actions taken while in the White House. This request follows D.C. District Judge Tanya Chutkan's rejection of a motion to dismiss the case in December, with Trump's appeal currently awaiting a decision in an appellate court.
In another legal interaction involving Trump, his team has asked the Supreme Court to consider an appeal over a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court. This ruling found that Trump violated the 14th Amendment, which bars public officials from holding federal office if they have engaged in "insurrection." The case focuses on Trump's behavior during the Capitol riot and could reverse the Colorado court's decision to bar him from the state's primary ballot.
The federal indictment against Trump is one of four criminal cases he faces, with two specifically surrounding his alleged actions around the 2020 election. Other cases involve alleged mishandling of classified documents and charges related to payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in all of these cases.
