Former US President Donald Trump (2017-2021) this Monday filed an appeal to the Supreme Court against a lower court decision that ruled that the former President He did not enjoy presidential immunity and should be prosecuted for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election and inciting an attack on the Capitol.
Trump had until Monday to appeal a decision by the D.C. Court of Appeals, which on February 6 said that after leaving the White House, He became another “citizen” Thus, he was no longer protected by the immunity he had enjoyed in his post.
The matter is now in the hands of the Supreme Court, whose decisions may determine whether the former president will face trial in Washington before the November elections.
In the text of the appeal, his lawyers addressed the court judges do not rush when considering the issue of Trump’s immunity.
“The assertion (…) that leaders enjoy absolute immunity from prosecution for their official acts constitutes new, complex and transcendental problem which merits careful consideration on appeal,” the statement said.
Photo: Reuters Archive
The Republican legal team tried postpone any legal proceedings against youas Trump’s eventual election victory over current President Joe Biden would make him chief executive and give him the power to order his attorney general to drop federal charges against him.
Trump’s strategy has already worked and has resulted in a trial against him for election interference being presided over by a D.C. judge. Tanya Chutkanhas remained paralyzed since December.
Although this process was originally scheduled to begin on March 4, this date has been suspended without installing a new one.
Despite Trump’s efforts, the special prosecutor in charge of the case, Jack Smith, is doing his best. for the trial to take place this year.
Supreme Court judges, where conservatives form a majority, have already They denied Smith’s request in December. intervene in the trial over presidential immunity.
Now, faced with Trump’s request, the justices have several options: directly refuse to consider the casetemporarily paralyze the trial against Trump while they debate the issue of presidential immunity, and hold hearings to hear the parties’ arguments.
Photo: Reuters Archive
No deadlines so the judges can make a decision, although they will likely seek their opinion from Smith’s team before doing so.
Of the nine Supreme Court judges three were appointed by Trump.
Washington is one of four criminal charges brought against Trump. If the trial in Washington is delayed, the first one to take place could be the trial he faces in New York for alleged illegal payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, which is currently set for March 25.
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In addition, a trial in Florida is scheduled for May 20, at which Trump is accused of illegally stored classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago mansion.
Finally, there is a case in which the Fulton County (Georgia) prosecutor’s office accuses Trump of try to undermine the 2020 election results in this state. A date for that trial has not yet been set.
(according to information from EFE)