Former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has a “60-day rule” that prevents law enforcement actions against candidates in the lead-up to an election. Trump’s statement comes as he faces federal cases in Washington, DC, and Florida related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and alleged hoarding of classified documents.
Despite Trump’s assertion, legal experts have debunked the existence of such a rule, stating that it is merely an unwritten guideline that Justice Department officials have followed over the years to avoid influencing elections. The guideline is not a legal requirement but a best practice determined by department officials.
Trump’s invocation of the supposed rule in response to an updated indictment in the federal election case caused a stir, with a Trump-appointed judge questioning whether holding a trial before the election would violate the guideline. However, since Trump was charged well ahead of the 60-day window, legal scholars argue that the guideline would not apply to his ongoing federal cases in Washington, DC, and Florida.
Moreover, the guideline does not pertain to Trump’s upcoming sentencing in New York or the pending trial in Georgia, which are state-level proceedings. Even if the rule were valid, Trump’s math is incorrect, as the updated indictment was filed over 70 days before the election on November 5th.
In conclusion, Trump’s claims about the DOJ’s “60-day rule” are unfounded, and legal experts assert that the guideline is not a strict requirement, but rather a longstanding practice that officials can choose to follow. Trump’s federal cases remain unaffected by this guideline, and his upcoming legal proceedings at the state level are similarly exempt.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
