In a significant development on Saturday, Judge Tanya Chutkan decisively rejected former President Donald Trump’s motion to dismiss the indictment. The defense had argued that the prosecution was politically motivated and vindictive, claiming that Trump was unfairly targeted compared to others who challenged election results without facing criminal charges.
In her order, Chutkan dismissed these arguments, emphasizing that Trump is not being prosecuted simply for contesting the election outcome but for “knowingly making false statements in furtherance of criminal conspiracies and for obstruction of election certification proceedings.” She criticized the defense’s reliance on media articles as a misinterpretation and affirmed that there was no basis for dismissing the case on grounds of vindictiveness.
This ruling is notable for its timing and substance. It is Judge Chutkan’s first major decision since the Supreme Court’s ruling that could potentially impact the scope of the special counsel Jack Smith’s case against Trump. The case, which has been on hold since December while Trump’s appeal was pending, will now advance under Chutkan’s oversight.
Additionally, Judge Chutkan has scheduled a status conference for August 16 to outline the next steps in the case. The indictment, issued in August 2023, accuses Trump of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results through various schemes, including pressuring his vice president, Mike Pence, to obstruct the certification of electoral votes.
The swift action by Judge Chutkan indicates her intent to move the case forward, potentially aiming to set a trial date before the November election, adding further pressure on Trump as he campaigns for the 2024 presidential race.
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have absolute immunity for core constitutional duties and are generally immune from prosecution for other official acts. The justices instructed Judge Chutkan to review the indictment and determine which of the alleged acts can be included in the prosecution and which must be excluded.
