The Supreme Court's stunning ruling that extended immunity protections covering a wide array of criminal acts allegedly committed by Donald Trump did leave open the door for Judge Tanya Chutkan to hold hearings that could damage his election prospects.
With the high court refusing to delineate what constitutes presidential duties and what should be interpreted as private conduct, the court is demanding Chutkan clear that up for them, which likely will lead to more review.
Should Chutkan take up the challenge, she could hold hearings involving Trump White House officials and members of the administration, including former Vice President Mike Pence, to question them under oath about the ex-president's conduct with regard to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
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Noting, "Mr. Trump’s lawyers will no doubt seek to narrow the scope of the proceeding and push it off for as long as possible. And if he wins the presidency again, he could avoid the proceeding altogether by ordering his Justice Department to drop the entire case," the New York Times is reporting, "But if Judge Chutkan sticks to her practice of dealing quickly with procedural matters and is able to schedule the hearing for September or October, it could lead to something extraordinary: a mini-trial of sorts unfolding in the nation’s capital in what could be the homestretch of the presidential campaign."
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Those hearings would air more dirty laundry from Trump administration officials who have not publicly testified about what went on behind the scenes as rioters stormed the Capitol, sending lawmakers fleeing for their lives, as well as what transpired before the assault on the duly-elected government.
"A hearing encompassing all of that could easily take several days — or even a matter of weeks — to complete. And it could result in testimony not only from Mr. Pence and his advisers, but also from a cast of characters including lawyers and campaign aides who were part of the fake elector scheme, and state officials who were subject to arm-twisting by Mr. Trump," the Times reported.
"If Judge Chutkan allows the most expansive version of the hearing to be held, it could look a lot like a full-on trial of Mr. Trump, lacking only a jury to render a verdict."
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