Trump’s plea for a pause on civil cases tied to January 6 activities is rejected, even as his criminal trial progresses, putting additional legal pressures on the former president

A federal judge has decisively turned down former President Donald Trump’s request to halt several civil lawsuits against him while his criminal trial continues. These lawsuits, initiated by members of Congress and Capitol police officers, aim to hold Trump accountable for his role in the events leading up to the January 6 riot.

D.C. District Judge Amit Mehta, overseeing the proceedings, ruled against Trump’s plea for a stay in the lawsuits. Trump’s legal team argued that simultaneous defence in both the civil and criminal cases could compromise his strategy in the criminal trial being conducted by Special Counsel Jack Smith. However, Judge Mehta found the overlap in facts between the civil cases and the criminal charges insufficient to warrant a pause.

In his ruling, Judge Mehta acknowledged the factual connections between Trump’s actions on January 6 and both sets of legal actions but dismissed the significance of this overlap in delaying the civil lawsuits. Trump’s team had also pointed to pending Supreme Court arguments concerning Trump’s claims of immunity from prosecution, which they believed could influence the civil cases.

Judge Mehta was unmoved by this argument, noting that a decision on immunity if needed, would not come before the Supreme Court’s term ends, and thus it would not affect the ongoing civil proceedings immediately. He expressed confidence in addressing any relevant Supreme Court decisions on immunity as they arise.

Trump faces significant legal challenges, including four felony charges related to conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction, as outlined in the indictment by Special Counsel Jack Smith. These charges stem from Trump’s alleged attempts to maintain power after losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains his innocence.