Supreme Court rejects expedited review of Trump’s immunity in 2020 election case

The Supreme Court has turned down special counsel Jack Smith’s plea for a swift examination of whether former President Donald Trump is shielded from criminal charges in the 2020 election interference case.

Despite this denial, the possibility remains open for the Supreme Court to address the case after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit deliberates on the matter in the upcoming weeks.

Scheduled to commence on January 9, the appellate court’s prompt consideration may impact the trial’s initiation against Trump, currently set for March 4. The Supreme Court’s decision, conveyed in a concise one-sentence order without noted dissents, stands as a victory for Trump, whose legal team advocated for the appeals court to weigh in first.

Expressing gratitude on social media, Trump celebrated the Supreme Court’s rejection of “Deranged Jack Smith’s desperate attempt to short circuit our Great Constitution.” However, despite Trump’s comments, the case is likely to resurface before the Supreme Court in the coming weeks.

Trump faces four felony charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, in connection with alleged attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. The former president, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, continues to assert his “entitlement to Presidential Immunity” and disseminate unfounded claims about the 2020 election being “rigged and stolen.”

It is important to note that there is no substantial evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, a fact emphasized by officials from both political parties and Trump’s former Attorney General William Barr.

Apart from the federal 2020 election case, Trump is embroiled in three other criminal proceedings in federal and state courts, addressing various allegations related to election interference, mishandling classified documents, and falsifying business records.

Additionally, the Supreme Court has recently agreed to review a challenge to one of the charges in the federal 2020 election case, which also pertains to the prosecution of individuals linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

The central question of whether a former president is immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office remains a pivotal aspect of this case. Despite the delay caused by the appeals court’s consideration, the Supreme Court may yet play a decisive role in determining the outcome of this legal battle.