New York, NY – Former President Donald Trump is seeking to have a lower court ruling, which denies him presidential immunity from prosecution, suspended by the Supreme Court. The ruling arose from an election interference case, in which Trump argued that as president, he could not be tried for acts committed during his presidency. However, three lower court judges disagreed, asserting that he can be prosecuted like any other citizen.
Trump’s lawyers are now urging the Supreme Court to put the ruling on hold, claiming that conducting a criminal trial during an election campaign would severely disrupt Trump’s ability to campaign for the presidency. The conservative-majority top court’s decision on this matter could potentially cause a significant delay in the landmark criminal case against Trump, alleging that he unlawfully plotted to overturn the 2020 election. If the Supreme Court declines to put the ruling on pause, a federal trial overseen by Judge Tanya Chutkan will likely be scheduled for the spring.
In addition to this case, Trump faces three other criminal trials as he continues to vie for the White House. These include charges related to an alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, a seven-count indictment in Florida over his handling of classified documents after leaving office, and a case in New York involving the alleged concealment of a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Throughout these cases, Trump has maintained his innocence, and his legal team has repeatedly sought to postpone the trials until after the 2024 election.
The former president’s argument of presidential immunity from prosecution was recently rejected by a three-judge panel from the DC Circuit court. Despite this, Trump’s lawyers are now asking the Supreme Court to review the lower court’s ruling, warning that denying the former president immunity would set a precedent leading to increasingly common prosecutions of former presidents.
The Supreme Court’s response to Trump’s request could take various forms, including granting his request for a review, denying his appeal, or bypassing a review and hearing the case immediately on a fast track basis. The court’s decision in this matter could significantly impact the timing of the trial, potentially delaying it well past the November election date.
The timing and outcome of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s request remain uncertain at this point. However, the decision is expected to have significant implications for the ongoing criminal cases and the former president’s political aspirations.