Former President Donald Trump is making moves to halt the progression of civil lawsuits related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol Complex until the conclusion of his criminal case in the District of Columbia.
In a joint status report filed in the Thompson v. Trump case, Trump’s legal team outlined their intention to file a Motion to Stay all proceedings within the next 14 days.
The notice, which was brought to light by New York Times journalist Alan Feuer, underscores Trump’s argument that his involvement in civil litigation could potentially undermine his criminal defense.
Citing a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Trump’s arguments on criminal immunity, his legal team contends that resolving the issue of presidential immunity is paramount before proceeding with civil cases.
According to the filing, Trump aims to prevent the stipulation of facts in the civil lawsuits until his criminal case concludes, asserting that doing so could provide prosecutors with insight into his defense strategy.
Despite plaintiffs’ assertions that proposed stipulations were based on publicly-available information, Trump’s defense maintains that conceding contested facts could compromise his position in both civil and criminal proceedings.
The joint status report highlights Trump’s concerns about preserving his ability to prepare a robust criminal defense and argues that engaging in civil proceedings concurrently would prejudice his case.
Trump had previously missed a deadline to file a petition for a writ of certiorari over the issue of civil immunity, prompting the D.C. Court of Appeals to temporarily pause the lawsuits to allow time for Supreme Court intervention.
In a separate ruling on December 1, 2023, Trump was dealt a blow in a case brought by Capitol Police Officers and lawmakers, further complicating the legal landscape surrounding the events of Jan. 6.
The unfolding legal saga underscores the complex intersection of civil and criminal proceedings. It also raises questions about Trump’s legal defense strategies moving forward.
