Judges Delay Jan. 6 Trials Ahead Of Trump Inauguration
In preparation for President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, two federal courts on January 6 decided to delay criminal trials for individuals accused of trespassing at the U.S. Capitol.
Judges Carl Nichols and Rudolph Contreras, appointed by Trump and Obama respectively, postponed proceedings until after Trump’s inauguration. They cited the possibility that, as president, Trump might pardon the defendants or dismiss their cases. This marks the first time judges have granted delays for January 6 defendants with pardons in mind, according to Fox News.
Contreras justified postponing defendant William Pope’s trial, scheduled for December, until late February, stating it would be wasteful to convene a jury and use taxpayer funds when there is a “real possibility” of a Trump pardon. “I’m focused on conservation of the resources of the parties, the court, and citizens,” Contreras explained. Pope, previously facing a felony obstruction charge, now confronts only minor charges after a Supreme Court ruling in June.
Nichols similarly delayed trials for three individuals charged with misdemeanor trespassing. His decision came after prosecutors, unable to guarantee the cases would proceed under a Trump administration, were questioned about their plans. Marina Medvin, representing two of the defendants, recounted that Nichols directly asked the prosecutor whether the cases would move forward if Trump took office. “Of course, the prosecutor could make no such assurances,” Medvin noted.
Meanwhile, Special Counsel Jack Smith faces new challenges following Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election. Smith recently requested that federal District Judge Tanya Chutkan remove all deadlines in his case against Trump, indicating the case may soon conclude. Prosecutors told the court that Trump, expected to be certified as President-elect on January 6, 2025, and inaugurated on January 20, presents “unprecedented circumstances” requiring reassessment of the case.
The Department of Justice promised a status update by December 2, 2024, to outline its next steps. However, Smith is now under scrutiny, with House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and Representative Barry Loudermilk demanding he preserve his records as part of their investigation into the January 6 Committee. Representative Wesley Hunt also weighed in, asserting during an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson that Smith could face imprisonment if he refuses to cooperate with Congress. “Jack Smith is going to be the first person on this list. If he doesn’t show up to Congress, then he will be in jail. They put Steve Bannon in jail. Those are the rules,” Hunt stated.