WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday over whether former President Donald Trump, who faces charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, should be granted immunity from criminal prosecution.
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President Trump has claimed presidential immunity in connection with the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, arguing that the incident resulted from acts that were within the scope of his official responsibilities as president. . Special Counsel Jack Smith's office, which brought the case against Trump, argued that the president is not entitled to absolute immunity and should face a criminal trial.
“The president must have immunity,” he said. “This has nothing to do with me. This has to do with a president in the future or 100 years from now. If you don't have immunity, you can't do anything. You're going to be a ceremonial president. You just have nothing to do with it.” I'm not going to take any risks, for better or for worse.”
President Trump: “This has nothing to do with me''
Updated April 25th at 9:45am EDT: President Trump told reporters outside a New York courthouse where he is facing unrelated criminal charges that the presidential immunity case is bigger than him.
The former president argued that without immunity, presidents could be hesitant to act for fear of later facing a trial.
President Trump will be absent from Washington on Thursday to hear arguments before the Supreme Court. He is in New York facing charges related to hush money payments made to silence allegations of marital infidelity ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Original report: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Thursday at 10 a.m.
[ Trump not immune to prosecution in 2020 election interference case, appeals court rules ]
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in February that “any executive immunity that may have protected[Trump]while president no longer protects him from this prosecution.” The court also sided with Mr. Smith.
President Trump is accused of running three criminal conspiracies to remain in power, including one aimed at delaying the certification of the electoral votes on January 6, 2021.
