Donald Trump is hoping that the conservative-majority top court will save him from at least one of his legal woes. Meanwhile, a separate case over hush money charges is keeping him occupied in New York.
Former President Donald Trump’s legal team will present arguments to the top US court on Thursday, advocating for immunity from criminal prosecution for any actions he took during his time in office.
However, Trump will not be present at the Supreme Court hearing, as he had hoped, due to another separate trial that he is facing in Manhattan.
Among his maze of legal problems, the top court’s decision could have the biggest impact on Trump’s third run for the White House later this year as well as setting a precedent for future US presidents.
Why is Trump seeking immunity?
The federal case before the Supreme Court pertains to charges that the former president conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which ended with thousands of his supporters storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 while lawmakers met to certify President Joe Biden’s victory.
Lower courts have rejected Trump’s claims that he is immune from criminal prosecution because he was still president at the time.
The nine leading justices, three of whom were appointed by Trump, could potentially determine the outcome of the former president’s main legal challenges through their ruling. However, if the Supreme Court justices align with the lower courts on the issue of presidential immunity, their decision may come too late for the trial to take place before the November elections.
Some legal scholars say that even if the trial proceeds on time and Trump is convicted, he would have the ability to pardon himself if he wins the November elections.
Donald Stuck In New York
The Supreme Court’s decision will, however, not impact the New York trial as this revolves around 34 state felony charges related to paying hush money in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election in an attempt to suppress potentially embarrassing stories from emerging.
As a state case, Trump would also not be able to pardon himself if elected president. The charges carry a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but it is not clear the judge would seek jail time.
The 77-year-old Republican presidential hopeful requests that his presence be excused from Thursday’s criminal trial so that he could attend the Supreme Court hearing. However, Judge Juan Merchan denied the request.
“Arguing before the Supreme Court is a big deal, and I can certainly appreciate why your client would want to be there, but a trial in New York Supreme Court is also a big deal,” Merchan said last week.
