By Steve Neavling
Special counsel Jack Smith urged the Supreme Court on Monday to expedite a ruling on whether former President Trump can face prosecution for allegedly orchestrating efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, the Associated Press reports.
Smith emphasized the need for swift action to prevent any trial delays for the 2024 Republican presidential primary frontrunner.
The trial is scheduled for March 4 and could extend beyond the presidential election.
The justices signaled their intention to promptly consider the case by directing Trump’s legal team to respond by Dec. 20.
While a federal judge greenlit the case to proceed, Trump intends to appeal this decision to the federal appeals court in Washington. Smith wants to circumvent the usual route of the appeals court and directly involve the Supreme 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,” prosecutors wrote.
Trump’s presidential campaign slammed Smith for trying to circumvent the appeals court.
“There is absolutely no reason to rush this sham to trial except to injure President Trump and tens of millions of his supporters. President Trump will continue to fight for Justice and oppose these authoritarian tactics,” the campaign said in a statement.
