Supreme Court hears Trump immunity claim in election interference case
The Supreme Court considers Donald Trump’s assertion of total immunity from criminal charges over his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
WASHINGTON — Tackling an unprecedented and politically fraught issue, the Supreme Court on Thursday morning is considering former President Donald Trump’s assertion of total immunity from criminal charges over his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
The court has taken on the novel legal question of whether a former president can be prosecuted for what Trump’s attorneys say were “official acts” taken in office, though much of the focus remains on whether the justices will rule quickly so a trial could take place before the November election.
With most legal experts questioning Trump's broad argument that the entire election interference indictment should be dismissed based on immunity, the court's eventual ruling on the extent to which official acts are protected and how quickly it rules will be of equal importance.
The case puts considerable scrutiny on the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority that includes three justices Trump appointed. The court already handed Trump an election-year boost when it ruled last month that Colorado could not kick him off the ballot.
The justices have also come under criticism for their delay in taking up Trump's appeal, which some view in itself as a victory for him.
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