Charges frozen
Supreme Court examines Trump’s immunity from prosecution
February 28, 2024, 11:29 p.m
Donald Trump wants to take the question of whether he enjoys immunity for his actions as US President to the Supreme Court. He grants the request. It is therefore unclear whether and when the trial against the former president for storming the Capitol can begin.
The US Supreme Court will deal with Donald Trump’s claim to enjoy extensive protection from criminal prosecution as ex-president. The Supreme Court set a date for oral arguments starting April 22nd. There is only one question: “Whether and, if so, to what extent, a former president enjoys immunity from criminal prosecution for behavior that is said to be related to official acts during his term in office.”
This means that the main proceedings against Trump in connection with the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 have been suspended. A success for the most promising candidate for the Republican nomination in the next presidential election campaign. He tries to prevent the start of the trial, or at least to delay it as much as possible.
A federal appeals court unanimously rejected Trump’s claim of immunity on February 6. It described this as “unrestricted power to commit crimes” and criticized that it would “undermine the most fundamental check on executive power – the recognition and implementation of election results.” The indictment was brought in August 2023, and the date for the main hearing on March 4th – Monday next week – was postponed in view of Trump’s objections.
It is now unclear when the Supreme Court will make a ruling. Of the new justices on the Supreme Court, six are considered conservative, three of whom were appointed by Trump himself. The presidential election will take place at the beginning of November.