Supremes Rubber Stamps Trump's Delay Game in Election Meddling Trial
In a move that could potentially prolong the saga surrounding former president Trump's election meddling charges, the Supreme Court has declined to swiftly address the question of his immunity. This decision, while a win for Trump, could mean a delay in his trial scheduled to begin on March 4, right in the thick of the Republican primaries.
Trump and his lawyers have been pumping the brakes on the trial, citing his desire for the proceeding to commence after the presidential election in November. The delaying tactics are a response to Trump's indictment by the federal judiciary in August for his attempts to subvert the 2020 election result and maintain his grip on power.
Trump's legal team has argued that, as president, he enjoyed 'absolute immunity,' making him exempt from prosecution for acts committed during his tenure in the White House. This argument was, however, rejected by federal judge Tanya Chutkan in December, who declared that his four-year stay in the White House did not grant him divine rights to escape criminal liability.
The fallout from Chutkan's decision saw Trump's lawyers appealing for leniency, while federal prosecutor Jack Smith turned to the Supreme Court for guidance on the immunity issue. Smith wanted the Court to address the matter directly, without waiting for a decision from the federal court appealed by Trump's lawyers.
However, the Supreme Court decided to bypass the appeals court, leaving the Case of the Century to rumble through the lower courts first. Regardless, it's expected that the trial will eventually land in the Supreme Court's lap.
In the thick of the whirlwind following Trump's loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, the former president refused to acknowledge defeat and instead ramped up his arguments concerning electoral fraud. His campaign reached its crescendo when his supporters launched a violent attack on the congressional seat in Washington on January 6, 2021.
The trial date of March 4, the eve of 'Super Tuesday,' when primaries will be held in about 15 states, is crucial for Trump's political aspirations. Polls suggest that he has the best chance of being re-nominated by the Republican party.
Trump's legal troubles are far from over. This year, he has been named in four separate criminal proceedings and faces a civil trial in New York over allegations of property value inflation.
Bonus Insights:
- Trump's trial for election meddling is not the only legal battle he's facing. He is also involved in a lawsuit challenging an executive order related to birthright citizenship, which is being heard in a Washington federal court.
- The Manhattan District Attorney's case ruled that the Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity did not impact Trump's conviction in the Manhattan case as his conduct was deemed personal, not official.
