Trump avoids federal indictment as judge dismisses key case

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
Today 05:43

A federal judge has dismissed charges against Trump, leaving the door open for future prosecution when his second term in office ends.

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A combination of pictures created on November 25, 2024, shows United States President-elect Donald Trump (left) on February 15, 2024, and special counsel Jack Smith (right) on August 1, 2023. (AFP)

A federal judge dismissed the charges against President-elect Donald Trump related to election obstruction on Monday, bringing an end to a significant investigation that never reached trial.

The decision followed a motion by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who argued that Justice Department policy prevents the prosecution of a sitting president.

Smith had sought to have the case dropped, citing legal guidelines that prohibited moving forward with the charges while Trump was in office. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan agreed to dismiss the case without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of future prosecution after Trump leaves office.

Trump, who had been accused of attempting to block Joe Biden's 2020 election victory, responded on social media, calling the charges "empty and lawless" and asserting they should "never have been brought."

The dismissal marks the latest chapter in the ongoing legal battles facing Trump. Even though the federal charges have been dropped, Trump faces multiple state indictments, including one in New York for alleged falsification of business records and another in Georgia over attempts to overturn election results in that state.

Earlier on November 22, a New York judge postponed sentencing of Trump's high-profile "hush money" case. The move, hailed as a "decisive win" by Trump’s transition team, grants his legal defense time to file a motion to dismiss the charges.

"In a decisive win for President Trump, the hoax Manhattan case is now fully stayed and sentencing is adjourned," Trump Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement following the announcement.

Judge Juan Merchan, who oversees the case, explained that the delay would allow Trump's legal team to submit their motion, which is due in December.

The motion is expected to reference a recent Supreme Court ruling that grants US presidents broad immunity for official acts. Trump’s attorneys argue that his election victory entitles him to similar protections, potentially challenging the validity of his conviction.