Trump’s election interference case in Georgia paused indefinitely

A court in Georgia has paused the election interference case against Donald Trump as it considers his claim the prosector bringing the charges has been compromised.

It means that other than the conviction last week in New York, where Mr Trump was found guilty of covering up hush money payments to an adult actress with whom he allegedly had a sexual encounter in 2006, no other cases will be heard before the November election.

On Wednesday, an appeals court put a sprawling election interference case against the 77-year-old former president and 14 other defendants on hold until it determined whether prosecutor Fani Willis, should be prevented from leading the prosecution.

Mr Trump and other defendants have said Ms Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney, should play no further role after it emerged she had a romantic relationship with another prosecutor she had hired.

Trial judge Scott McAfee had initially permitted the proceedings in the court to continue as the appeals court weighed an appeal made by Mr Trump of his decision to allow Ms Willis to remain on the case.

It is unclear how long the appeals court will take, but some reports suggested it may not examine the case until next year.

The development means Mr Trump is all but certain not to face any of the three cases still pending against him before November 5, an issue that would likely benefit his campaign as he seeks to return to the White House.

Earlier this week, a judge in Florida, Aileen Cannon, who is hearing accusations that Mr Trump improperly held onto classified documents when he left the White House in 2021, added more preliminary hearings to the case calendar, further delaying an already stalled process.

Meanwhile, the federal election interference case being brought against Mr Trump by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith has also been held up as the Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, considers Mr Trump’s claim he had complete immunity for his actions as president.

The delays have amounted to a master class by the former president’s lawyers on how to use a variety of tactics to slow down and delay the cases against him.

If Mr Trump is reelected president, many believe he would have the power to pardon himself in regard to any federal cases.

The former president, who has said he is not guilty in all four cases, has already said he will appeal last week’s decision by a jury in New York.