Overview

• Judge Tanya Chutkan has partially granted Donald Trump's request to halt new substantive filings in his election interference case, while it is on hold pending a decision on whether Trump has 'presidential immunity' from criminal charges.
• Chutkan denied Trump's request to hold Special Counsel Jack Smith in contempt for recent filings amid a pause while the immunity issue central to the criminal case is being considered by a D.C.-based federal appeals court.
• Trump's trial is currently scheduled to begin on March 4, but it could be delayed depending on how long it takes for the presidential immunity issue to be settled.
• Trump's lawyers claimed that prosecutors violated the judge’s stay order by continuing to make filings in the case, which the judge had placed a stay order on in December.
• Chutkan clarified that Trump’s counsel did not need to respond to the government’s filings at this time.