In a significant development, the judge overseeing the federal election interference case against former President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., has decided to stay the proceedings while the appeals process is underway. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan granted the stay despite opposition from special counsel Jack Smith.

Trump's legal team had requested the proceedings be put on hold, a request that was opposed by special counsel Jack Smith's team. They argued that certain filings could still move forward, ensuring that the case stayed on track for the trial scheduled for March 4.

Judge Chutkan clarified that the delay does not prevent her from enforcing protective orders, Trump's conditions of release, or the limited gag order he faces. The gag order prohibits Trump from making statements about potential witnesses, attacking special counsel Jack Smith, his staff, Chutkan's staff, and the staff of other D.C. district court personnel.

In an attempt to prevent any further delays to the trial, the special counsel recently requested the Supreme Court's intervention to resolve the matter swiftly.

Earlier last year, Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to charges related to his alleged involvement in a "criminal scheme" to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The charges against him include enlisting so-called "fake electors," misusing the Justice Department for "sham election crime investigations," attempting to persuade the vice president to "alter the election results," and spreading false claims of a stolen election during the January 6 Capitol riot. These actions, according to the prosecution, were aimed at subverting democracy and maintaining Trump's grip on power.

Despite the allegations, Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, condemning the charges as nothing more than "a persecution of a political opponent."

As the appeals process unfolds, the stay in proceedings introduces a potential delay in the high-stakes trial, leaving legal experts and spectators eagerly awaiting further developments in this federal election interference case.