After Donald Trump’s legal setback, the Supreme Court attracts all eyes

CHIP SOMODEVILLA / Getty Images via AFP Doanld Trump, here on January 31, 2024, wants at all costs to avoid a trial over his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election before the 2024 presidential election.

CHIP SOMODEVILLA / Getty Images via AFP

Doanld Trump, here on January 31, 2024, wants at all costs to avoid a trial over his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election before the 2024 presidential election.

UNITED STATES – Donald Trump has lost a battle, but he has not yet lost his war. In an opinion delivered this Tuesday, February 6, a US federal appeals court rejected the request for immunity made by the ex-president accused of trying to illegally reverse the results of the 2020 election. all eyes are on the Supreme Court.

The real estate magnate, well on his way to becoming the representative of the Republican Party for the presidential election in November, should in fact take the matter to the highest American court to try to obtain this immunity. It is she who will decide her political future.

In any case, he announced that he would appeal to her, considering the judgment of the court of appeal “destructive for the country”. “ If not overturned as it must be, this decision will seriously damage not only the presidency, but also the life, breath and success of our country.”he added on his Truth Social network.

Win time

With this procedure before the Supreme Court, Donald Trump will above all try to gain time. The billionaire has until February 12 to appeal. The Supreme Court will first have to decide whether to accept or reject his case. If she decides to take a position, the entire procedure could last months if the judges decide to take their time to hear the parties.

A boon for Donald Trump who wants at all costs to avoid appearing in court in this case before the November election. Because in the event of victory against – barring a huge surprise – Joe Biden, he will not be able to be judged while he occupies the Oval Office. He would even consider, something unprecedented and which is the subject of debate among constitutional experts, pardoning himself to escape any prosecution.

The multitude of procedures has already allowed the former president to postpone the deadline for this explosive trial which could have a significant impact on the Republican primaries, where Donald Trump is now only facing Nikki Haley.

A trial before the November election?

Indeed, the trial was to take place on March 4. But the court of appeal having taken time to render its decision on the immunity of Donald Trump, judge Tanya Chutkan, who will lead the debates at the trial, decided to remove the date from the calendar seeing the delay accumulating … without giving any news.

The continuation of the former president’s legal adventures is therefore in the hands of the Supreme Court. If she immediately rejects Donald Trump’s case, the calendar will finally be able to return to normal, Judge Chutkan having expressed her desire to move on to the hearings as quickly as possible. Otherwise, it is not guaranteed that the trial will take place before November.

This is not the only case where the Supreme Court will be particularly scrutinized in the coming days. Starting Thursday, she will address the question of Trump’s electability in states like Colorado that have decided to exclude him from the ballots because of his involvement in the assault on the Capitol.

The Court will have to interpret the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which excludes from any public liability anyone, after taking an oath to defend the Constitution, who engages in acts of “ rebellion ». If America’s highest court finds that Trump was affected by this article as president, other states could exclude him from the ballots. Enough to seriously stop his winning machine.

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