Former US President Donald Trump has made a significant move in his legal battles by requesting the Supreme Court to suspend a lower court ruling that states he does not enjoy presidential immunity from prosecution. This comes after three lower court judges concluded that Trump can be prosecuted like any other citizen, leading to his attorneys arguing that he should not face trial during an election campaign.
In a filing to the Supreme Court, Trump’s lawyers mentioned that conducting a criminal trial while he is actively campaigning against President Biden would disrupt his ability to do so effectively. The Supreme Court now has the task of deciding whether to put the ruling on hold to allow Trump to lodge an appeal.
If the court grants Trump’s request, it would result in a significant delay in the criminal case accusing him of planning to overturn the 2020 election, potentially pushing the trial beyond the scheduled November election. On the other hand, if the Supreme Court declines to halt the ruling, a federal trial supervised by Judge Tanya Chutkan would be set, most likely taking place in the spring.
Interestingly, this is not the only legal battle Trump is facing. He currently faces three other criminal trials, including charges in Georgia and Florida, as well as a case in New York relating to the concealment of payment made to Stormy Daniels. Trump’s legal team has continuously sought to postpone these trials until after the 2024 election.
In the aforementioned election interference trial, Trump has been charged with four counts, all of which he has fervently denied. His lawyers argue that presidents have immunity from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, even after leaving the White House. However, their argument was dismissed by the DC Circuit court, which prompted Trump’s lawyers to seek a review of the case from the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court now holds the power to either deny Trump’s request, allowing the federal trial to resume, or agree to review the case, potentially leading to a delay in the trial beyond the November election. Either way, the Supreme Court’s decision will play a crucial role in determining the future of Trump’s legal battles and the extent of presidential immunity.
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