Donald Trump on Tuesday filed a U.S. Supreme Court brief in his bid for criminal immunity for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss, arguing that a former president enjoys “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for his official acts.”

The case is due to be argued before the justices on April 25. Trump has appealed a lower court’s rejection of his request to be shielded from the criminal case being pursued by Special Counsel Jack Smith because he was serving as president when he took the actions at the center of the case.

The filing advances arguments similar to ones Trump’s lawyers previously have made and echoes statements he has made on the campaign trail as he seeks to regain the presidency.

“The president cannot function, and the presidency itself cannot retain its vital independence, if the president faces criminal prosecution for official acts once he leaves office,” the filing said.

  • KoboldCoterie@pawb.socialEnglish
    841·
    8 months ago

    If an “official act” is anything that happens while they’re in office, Biden should just shoot Trump on his last day in office. Following this argument, he’d be immune to prosecution.

    A denial of criminal immunity would incapacitate every future president with de facto blackmail and extortion while in office, and condemn him to years of post-office trauma at the hands of political opponents.

    It’s funny that this hasn’t happened in 45 presidencies, yet his argument is that it’s suddenly going to be a problem for every future president…

      • Neato@ttrpg.networkEnglish
        17·
        8 months ago

        Especially since then Trump’s VP would be President and who knows what fucko he’s going to run with.

    • APassenger@lemmy.world
      10·
      8 months ago

      Justice = blackmail Accountability = extortion

      It’s diabolical the limits the law places on people who just want to pick winners, losers, and sell secrets. Kinda unfair, really.

      What’s the point of all that power if it’s fettered?