Legal Tensions Surge in Trump Election Interference Case Post-SC Ruling

Prosecutors and defence lawyers debated the next steps in Donald Trump's federal election interference case during a court hearing on Thursday. The clash follows the Supreme Court's ruling that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal charges. Special counsel Jack Smith's team has filed a new indictment, while Trump's lawyers seek dismissal based on various grounds.

Prosecutors and defence lawyers faced off in court on Thursday regarding the next steps in the federal election interference prosecution of Donald Trump. This marked the first hearing since the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents are entitled to broad immunity from criminal charges.

The duelling proposals highlighted how the justices' opinion in July has altered the path of the case accusing Trump of trying to overturn the 2020 election results. In response, special counsel Jack Smith's team filed a new indictment, removing certain allegations for which the Supreme Court granted Trump immunity.

Thomas Windom, part of Smith's team, stated that prosecutors would submit a legal brief within three weeks explaining the new indictment. Defence lawyer John Lauro, however, argued that such a move would undermine criminal rules by submitting before the defence could move to dismiss the indictment.

The hearing, led by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, marked almost a year since the case was frozen as Trump's appeal on immunity grounds was pending. Trump, absent from the hearing, had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf for the revised indictment.

The case remains one of two federal prosecutions against Trump, with the other concerning classified documents at Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed that case but Smith's team has appealed. Trump's legal team plans to seek dismissal of the election interference case on similar grounds.

(With inputs from agencies.)