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.

    • MagicShel@programming.dev
      261·
      8 months ago

      If it does, I hope Biden goes on a huge crime spree. I mean, that’s the endgame so might as well be entertained while the shop goes down.

      • 𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍@midwest.social
        161·
        8 months ago

        OK OK OK New theory: Trump’s lawyers are trying to get him killed.

        1. Lawyers argue during presidents should be able to literally assassinate people
        2. Conservative supreme court agrees
        3. Biden, with newly granted powers, takes next logical step and has Trump retired.

        I doubt any Republican would risk accepting the nomination for, or running against, Biden - or any Democrat president ever again.

      • Neato@ttrpg.networkEnglish
        11·
        8 months ago

        Unfortunately I really doubt Biden would break the law even if SCOTUS said he couldn’t be prosecuted. It would effectively stain him forever and he’d need to keep breaking the law in order to stay in power. He imprisons Trump he’s probably looking at impeachment. So then he needs to jail dissidents in congress. Now he’s definitely not winning re-election so he needs to suspend the election.

        Either way dictators win if this decision gives Presidents absolute immunity. Which is the only reason I’m hopeful the corrupt SCOTUS won’t decide along those lines. The SCOTUS, and the entire country would effectively be held hostage under the dictator President.