ChainCatcher reported that Jinshi quoted ABC as saying that on the 16th local time, the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals approved the request of special prosecutor Smith to suspend the appeal of the case involving confidential documents of the U.S. President-elect Trump.

This move is part of Smith's gradual end of the two cases against Trump because the long-standing policy of the U.S. Department of Justice prohibits incumbent presidents from facing criminal prosecution while in office.

Since Trump won the 2024 U.S. presidential election and will take office as U.S. President in January 2025, Smith said that the appeal was requested to be suspended at this time "so that the government has time to evaluate this unprecedented situation and determine the appropriate route consistent with the policies of the Department of Justice."