The Supreme Court will hear arguments on April 25 on whether former President Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in Jack Smith, the Special Counsel’s election interference case.
Last week, the Supreme Court agreed it would review whether Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution in Smith’s case and said the appeal would be fast-tracked.
A ruling from the court is expected by late June.
Trump’s criminal trial is on hold pending the resolution of the matter.
Former President Trump and his legal team requested the Supreme Court review the presidential immunity issue, “stating that if the prosecution of a President is upheld, such prosecutions will recur and become increasingly common, ushering in destructive cycles of recrimination.”
“Criminal prosecution, with its greater stigma and more severe penalties, imposes a far greater ‘personal vulnerability’ on the President than any civil penalty,” states the request. “The threat of future criminal prosecution by a politically opposed Administration will overshadow every future President’s official acts — especially the most politically controversial decisions.”
The request from Trump states the President’s “political opponents will seek to influence and control his or her decisions via effective extortion or blackmail with the threat, explicit or implicit, of indictment by a future, hostile Administration, for acts that do not warrant any such prosecution.”
Special Counsel Smith charged the former President with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
The charges stemmed from the investigation into whether Trump was involved in the January 6 incident at the Capitol and any possible interference in the 2020 election result.
In August, Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges.
This marks the second time this term that the Supreme Court will hear a case involving the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.
Trump reacts to Supreme Court ruling
Monday, the Supreme Court unanimously sided with the 2024 Republican frontrunner in his challenge to Colorado’s attempt to remove him from the 2024 primary ballot.
The court ruled in favor of Trump’s arguments in the case, which impacts the status of efforts in numerous other states that desired to remove the likely nominee from their ballots.
For the first time, the high court considered the reach and meaning of Article 3 of the 14th Amendment, which blocks former officeholders who “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office again. Challenges have already been filed to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot in more than 30 states.
Trump shifted his sights to the issue of presidential immunity when reacting to the Monday ruling.
“A great win for America. Very, very important!” said Trump.
“Equally important for our country will be the decision that they will soon make on immunity for a president — without which, the presidency would be relegated to nothing more than a ceremonial position, far from what the founders intended,” said Trump. “No president would be able to properly and effectively function without complete and total immunity.”
“Our country would be put at great risk,” he added.
