Judges Postpone Jan. 6 Trials Amid Trump Inauguration Preparations
Ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, two federal courts have opted to delay criminal proceedings for several individuals charged with unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol.
On January 6, the courts announced their decision to postpone hearings for those facing trespassing charges due to Trump’s upcoming inauguration as president.
Circuit court judges Carl Nichols and Rudolph Contreras, appointed by Trump and Obama respectively, deferred the cases until after Trump assumes office. Their rationale was that Trump, as president and head of the Department of Justice, might choose to drop the cases or issue pardons for the defendants.
For the first time, according to Fox News, judges have granted requests from Jan. 6 defendants to delay their cases, anticipating potential Trump pardons.
Judge Contreras emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary expenses, stating it would be inefficient to “summon a jury and use taxpayer funds” when there’s a “real possibility” of pardons. He rescheduled defendant William Pope’s trial for late February.
Contreras added, “My focus is on conserving the resources of the parties, the court, and citizens.”
Pope, who had his felony obstruction charge dismissed following the Supreme Court’s June ruling, now faces only minor charges. His trial was initially set for December.
Judge Nichols also postponed trials for three other defendants accused of minor trespassing. He made the decision after inquiring whether federal prosecutors expected the cases to proceed under the incoming Trump administration. When prosecutors couldn’t provide a clear answer, Nichols deferred the trials to April.
Marina Medvin, who represents two defendants in Nichols’ court, commented, “As soon as the prosecutor asked for a trial date, Judge Nichols confronted her on whether she could assure the court that this matter would be moving forward to trial once the new administration takes office.”
“Of course, the prosecutor could make no such assurances,” Medvin noted.
Special Counsel Jack Smith is now navigating a challenging situation after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
On Friday, Smith requested the court to eliminate all remaining deadlines in his case against Trump, signaling a potential conclusion to his efforts, as reported by CNN.
Prosecutors informed federal District Judge Tanya Chutkan, “As a result of the election held on November 5, 2024, the defendant is expected to be certified as President-elect on January 6, 2025, and inaugurated on January 20, 2025. The government respectfully requests that the Court vacate the remaining deadlines in the pretrial schedule to afford the Government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy.”
The government committed to providing a status update by December 2, 2024.
Meanwhile, Smith faces mounting pressure. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and Republican Representative Barry Loudermilk, who oversees the January 6 Committee investigation, have issued a directive for Smith to preserve his records.
Republican Representative Wesley Hunt expressed his views in an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, suggesting Smith might face legal consequences himself.
“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 asserted.