Judge Chutkan Rejects Trump Motion in Election Case

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has rejected former President Donald Trump's motion to dismiss his indictment in the federal election interference case, asserting that Trump's prosecution is based on knowingly making false statements and obstructing election certification, not merely challenging the results. The Supreme Court recently ruled that Trump has immunity for official acts but not for unofficial ones, sending the case back to Chutkan to determine which of Trump's actions fall under these categories. Chutkan has scheduled an August 16 hearing to discuss the pretrial schedule, with both parties required to submit a status report by August 9. This ruling marks the first significant movement in the case after a seven-month hiatus, and no trial is expected before the November 2024 election.