US judge formally postpones Trump's 2020 election subversion trial

[February 03, 2024]  (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Friday formally postponed former President Donald Trump's trial on federal charges that he sought to overturn the 2020 election results, which was scheduled to begin next month. 

The seal of the U.S. Justice Department is seen on the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

The delay, which was widely expected, stems from an appeal by Trump on claims that he is immune from prosecution for official actions taken while he was president. The case in federal court in Washington has been paused since December while Trump pursues the appeal.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan did not set a new trial date on Friday, but said she would wait until the case returns to her court.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard arguments on Trump's immunity claim on Jan. 9, but has not yet issued its ruling.

Trump, who is closing in on the Republican presidential nomination, has pleaded not guilty to four felony counts accusing him of a multi-pronged conspiracy to use false claims of voter fraud to overturn his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.

(Reporting by Eric Beech and Dan Whitcomb, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

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