0311
Diamond Member
Special Counsel Jack Smith filed motions on Monday with the U.S. Supreme Court and a Washington, D.C., federal appeals court aimed at ensuring Donald Trump's criminal trial on charges tied to 2020 election interference can stay on track for March of 2024.
The twin filings from the special counsel's office are in response to an appeal the former president's lawyers filed last week that asked for the entire criminal case to be put on hold until the D.C.-based U.S. Court of Appeals reaches a decision on whether Trump can even be charged for actions he took within the "outer perimeter" of his official duties as president.
Rather than wait for the D.C. Circuit to give its opinion on the matter, Smith's office jumped ahead with its petition for immediate review by the nation's highest court.
"This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he has been impeached but not convicted before the criminal proceedings begin," Smith's office wrote in its 14-page petition for a writ of certiorari.
Jack Smith Seeks Supreme Court Review to Keep Trump Criminal Case Moving Toward March Trial
Trump is trying to halt all proceedings while he appeals a judge's decision he has 'presidential immunity'
themessenger.com
The twin filings from the special counsel's office are in response to an appeal the former president's lawyers filed last week that asked for the entire criminal case to be put on hold until the D.C.-based U.S. Court of Appeals reaches a decision on whether Trump can even be charged for actions he took within the "outer perimeter" of his official duties as president.
Rather than wait for the D.C. Circuit to give its opinion on the matter, Smith's office jumped ahead with its petition for immediate review by the nation's highest court.
"This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he has been impeached but not convicted before the criminal proceedings begin," Smith's office wrote in its 14-page petition for a writ of certiorari.