In a recent development, the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to expedite the ruling on Donald Trump’s immunity claim. This allows for the New York state authorities to continue their investigation against the former president over various financial matters.
Trump had hoped to secure ultimate immunity from any and all criminal prosecutions, keeping him out of legal trouble while in office, and out of the reach of the New York Attorney General’s office once he had left office.
In January during Trump’s final days as president, Trump’s lawyers attempted to petition the Supreme Court to swiftly issue a ruling on the case and guarantee that Trump would be beyond the reach of any investigations by New York State authorities.
However, the high court declined the request for speedy resolution on the matter, making it almost certain that the case will still be winding its way through the legal system long after Trump had left office.
This is an important ruling that will have ramifications beyond the Trump investigation. It provides a legal precedent that will have powerful effects on future presidents with regards to immunity and prosecution.
As of now, the Supreme Court has no set precedent for presidential immunity and it is the attorney general of each state, under their respective laws and regulations, who will determine whether or not a president can be subject to criminal prosecution.
Given the fact that the Supreme Court did not expedite the ruling on Trump’s immunity, this could mean that any future president may face similar difficulties should they attempt to seek legal immunity.
As for Trump, the former president still maintains that he is immune from criminal prosecution while in office, and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing during his term. It is yet to be seen whether further investigations will yield any results given the U.S. Supreme Court’s lack of interest in expediting the ruling on the matter.
Supreme Court Denies Rush on Presidential Immunity Decision
