U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has scheduled a hearing for August 16 to discuss the next steps in the federal election interference case against former President Donald Trump. The hearing, set for 10 a.m. ET in Washington, D.C., marks a significant development in the case that has been on hold for several months.
The case, brought by special counsel Jack Smith, charges Trump with four felony counts related to alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Judge Chutkan’s order, issued on Saturday, comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that granted presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts performed while in office. This ruling has necessitated a careful review of the charges against Trump to determine which allegations can proceed to trial.
In her order, Judge Chutkan denied Trump’s motion to dismiss the case on statutory grounds but noted that his legal team may refile the motion once the issues of presidential immunity are resolved. The judge also set an August 9 deadline for both parties to submit a joint status report proposing a schedule for further proceedings.
The upcoming hearing will be the first time in seven months that the parties will appear in Judge Chutkan’s courtroom. The case had been stayed while Trump’s legal team appealed the issue of presidential immunity up to the Supreme Court.
Special counsel Jack Smith’s office has been granted an extension to respond to Judge Chutkan’s scheduling order, citing complexities arising from the Supreme Court’s recent decision on presidential immunity. This extension highlights the intricate legal landscape surrounding the case.
The charges against Trump include conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. These allegations stem from actions taken in the aftermath of the 2020 election, including the events leading up to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
As the case moves forward, Judge Chutkan will be tasked with applying the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity to the specific allegations in Trump’s indictment. This process will involve determining which of Trump’s actions qualify as “official acts” protected by immunity and which can be considered private conduct subject to prosecution.
The outcome of this hearing and subsequent proceedings could have far-reaching implications for the timeline of the trial, originally scheduled for March 4, 2024, and for the broader question of presidential accountability under the law.
Citations:
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/us/politics/trump-federal-election-case-hearing.html
[2] https://www.11alive.com/article/news/special-reports/ga-trump-investigation/court-denies-motion-to-delay-trump-case-georgia/85-671acc86-03e1-4fff-ba19-a4fa407bc4ea
[3] https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-trumps-election-interference-case-grants-extension-sought/story?id=112717697
[4] https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-sets-aug-16-hearing-trumps-federal-election/story?id=112537104
[5] https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/resources/backgrounder-fulton-county-georgia-charges/
[6] https://tennesseelookout.com/2024/08/11/added-delays-in-store-for-trump-in-2020-election-interference-case/
[7] https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/03/politics/election-interference-case-hearing/index.html
Last modified: June 20, 2025
