Trump seeks pause on classified documents case after Supreme Court immunity ruling

WASHINGTON: Lawyers for Donald Trump asked a US judge on Friday to partially pause the criminal case accusing the former president of mishandling classified documents, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that presidents have broad immunity for official acts.

Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, said the Supreme Court’s ruling that he has broad immunity from criminal prosecution in a case over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election also boosts his claim of immunity in the classified documents prosecution.

A pause is necessary “to minimize the adverse consequences to the institution of the presidency arising from this unconstitutional investigation and prosecution,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a court filing.

The request is the latest effort by Trump’s legal team to capitalize on the Supreme Court ruling as he faces four criminal prosecutions. Trump has already used the decision to delay his sentencing on charges he falsified business records.

Trump’s legal team asked US District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump nominee who is overseeing the documents case, to halt activity until she rules on Trump’s requests to throw out the charges based on his claim of immunity and his argument that lead prosecutor Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed.