Special counsel Jack Smith has asked the judge in Donald Trump's election interference criminal trial to hit pause on the process and give him a month to formally request how to move forward — likely the first step in ending the prosecution.

The judge overseeing President-elect Trump's federal Jan. 6 case granted special counsel Jack Smith's request Friday to pause proceedings in the case. The big picture: Smith has been in discussions with Justice Department officials about how to close his two federal criminal cases against Trump —the first convicted felon to win the White House.