Supreme Court Declines to Fast-Track Special Counsel Petition, Handing Trump a Win

The Epoch Times Header

President Trump’s case will now continue in the appeals court.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected on Friday a petition by special counsel Jack Smith for an immediate review of a defense in one of two cases he is prosecuting against former President Donald Trump.

“Petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment denied,” the unsigned order reads.

A 1982 Supreme Court opinion had established absolute immunity for presidents from civil suits, but as both parties have argued, the bounds of immunity from criminal prosecution have not been defined.

If the Supreme Court had agreed to review the presidential immunity defense, it would have established the outcome of President Trump’s motion to dismiss this case based on presidential immunity in the appeals court.

It’s also a defense he has raised in several other cases, including civil cases, albeit unsuccessfully.

Both parties argued the case is of historical significance, citing it as evidence to either expedite or slow down the proceedings. In court briefings, the parties argued over the framing of President Trump’s presidential immunity defense.

Appeals Court Will Expedite Case

Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan denied a motion to dismiss based on presidential immunity, allowing President Trump to take action in the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Prosecutors swiftly filed a request to expedite the appeal, which the appeals court quickly granted.

President Trump’s opening brief is due Dec. 23, and the prosecutors’ reply by Dec. 30.

The first hearing has already been scheduled for Jan. 9; the appeals court initially announced a stay of all other proceedings pending “final action” from the Supreme Court. The high court’s denial allows the appeal process to continue.

Presidential Immunity

President Trump is arguing that all the actions he’s been charged for were ones done in his official capacity as President of the United States.

That these official acts are covered under “presidential immunity” is the core of this particular defense.

While the Supreme Court has outlined absolute immunity from civil suits for presidents, defense attorneys argued that opening up presidents to criminal prosecution for acts in office would have reverberating effects.

Byย Catherine Yang

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Is Juneteenth a Bogus Holiday?

June 19th is a Federal Holiday giving us time to reflect on the end of slavery. The only problem is, June 19, 1865 is not the date slavery ended.

The 2020 Election Was Stolen and China Helped!

Chinese intelligence forces conducted a clandestine plot to sow multiple states with fraudulent ballots to swing the 2020 election from Trump to Biden.

The Brits & Ukrainians Are Plotting To Manipulate Trump Into Escalating Against Russia

Russiaโ€™s Foreign Intelligence Agency (SVR) warned that the Brits and Ukrainians are preparing two false flag scenarios in the Baltic Sea.

Trump Should Support Israel in its War to Destroy Iranโ€™s Nuclear Program and Topple the Regime

Israelโ€™s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets presents an opportunity for the US to assert its strategic interests in the Middle East.

Air India Flight 171โ€™s Odd Crash Anomalies

Those looking at the early video of the Air India flight AI171 crash had 3 different ideas of what caused it, but were there problems with the scenarios?

US Home Down Payments Fall for First Time in 2 Years

The typical down payment made by U.S. homebuyers fell 1 percent year-over-year to $62,468 in April, the first annual decline in almost two years.

Federal Reserve Keeps Interest Rates Unchanged, Signals 2 Cuts This year

The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged for the fourth straight meeting on June 18, a decision that financial markets widely expected.

Elon Muskโ€™s X Sues New York Over Content-Moderation Law

Social media platform X is suing NY state over a new law that would require X and similar digital services to disclose how they police user-generated content.

Appeals Court Questions Judgesโ€™ Authority to Review Trumpโ€™s Deployment of Troops to LA

Members of a federal appeals court questioned role courts should have in reviewing Trumpโ€™s authority to deploy the National Guard and Marines to LA.

Interior Dept. Proposes Opening Up 82 Percent of Alaskan Petroleum Reserve

DOI released draft analysis proposing reopening up to 82% of 23 million-acre National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska to oil and gas leasing and development.

Trump Leaving G7 Summit Early to Focus on Middle East, White House Says

President Donald Trump will leave the G7 summit earlier than planned, opting to return to Washington, the White House said on Monday.

Trump Touts USโ€“UK Trade Deal Signed at G7

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the recently finalized UK-US bilateral trade agreement is โ€œsigned and done.โ€

Trump Calls Expelling Russia from G8 โ€˜a Big Mistakeโ€™ at Canada Summit

The president says Putinโ€™s presence in the group could...
spot_img

Related Articles