Going to bat for the former POTUS, special prosecutor Jack Smith, is asking the supreme court to weigh in on whether Donald Trump can escape prosecution by claiming immunity. The focus is on Trump's alleged involvement in the Capitol Tower events on January 6, 2021, and the election interference lawsuit against him. Smith argued that ruling on this matter was of "urgent public importance."
Set for a courtroom showdown starting March 4th, Trump's trial for election manipulation accusations in a D.C. federal court is looming. If the court denies his immunity claim, Smith urged for a swift trial. Slamming down Trump's request pending immunity, Judge Tanya Chutkan brushed it off in December. Saying, "Trump's four years as president have not bestowed upon him the divine right of kings to avoid the criminal liability."
Declaring everyone was equal before the law, Smith's team proclaimed, "No one in this country, not even the president, is above the law." Chutkan echoed this sentiment, adding, "Trump is subject to federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans."
Since his election loss in November 2020, Trump refused to concede to Democrat Joe Biden, claiming massive electoral fraud. This led to his supporters storming the U.S. congressional seat in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021.
With the supreme court's recent ruling, if Trump's actions during the 2020 election and Capitol riot can be classified as official acts, he would be shielded from federal criminal prosecution.
- After the supreme court ruled that former Presidents were entitled to at least presumptive immunity for official acts performed during their tenure, the focus turned to determining which allegations against Trump fell under the umbrella of official acts and which were classified as private matters. The case was sent back to the trial court for analysis.
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In a 6-3 decision, the supreme court ruled that former Presidents were entitled to at least presumptive, if not absolute, immunity for official acts performed during their tenure. The decision applied to actions taken as part of their core constitutional authority as well as their role as president but not to unofficial acts. The case was ultimately sent back to the trial court to determine which allegations against Trump fell under the category of official acts and private matters.
