Accused of illegally attempting to overturn the results of 2020 presidential election, former US President, Donald Trump now finds himself seeking presidential immunity. Notably, this maneuver is seen as an effort to delay possible trials until after November’s election. The Supreme Court of the United States took the decision on Wednesday, February 28, to pursue an investigation into Trump’s appeal.
The Supreme Court in the coming months, will assess if the billionaire can in fact, be prosecuted for his alleged role in the affair. To prevent being the subject of a potentially explosive trial, Trump asserts his right to immunity, claiming he cannot be judged since he was President at the time the events took place.
The Supreme Court is set to hear both sides in the week commencing April 22, expected to render a decision no later than the end of June as reported by the Associated Press. This has consequently delayed Trump’s trial in Washington, much to the disappointment of Judge Tanya Chutkan who was eager for a swift resolution to the issue.
Multiple judicial procedures launched by Trump resulted in the original March 4 trial date to be removed from the judicial calendar, with no new date given. It is now clear that Trump cannot be prosecuted before May at the earliest. As per the New York Times, a verdict given in June could pave way for a trial as early as September or October. However, the Supreme Court, mostly conservative, might decide to grant immunity to Trump giving him a significant triumph.
The fact that the Court did not dismiss his plea out rightly is a modest yet promising step forward for the real-estate tycoon. Furthermore, this offers a valuable opportunity to buy more time in hope to avert a hefty sentence ahead of the anticipated November election where it is likely he would be up against Joe Biden. If elected before sentencing, he would be protected from prosecution during his term and may possibly pardon himself to permanently avoid trials.
The Court did however, consider Prosecutor Jack Smith’s plea to set an expedited schedule for the trial, should the Court decide to dismiss Trump’s bid for immunity, citing it to be necessary due to the case’s unique national importance.
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