On Monday, the Supreme Court elected to wait before deliberating a potential legal battle over President Trump’s claims of legal immunity from prosecution as he faces two cases with possible criminal charges. The news came after the President took his case to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in a last-ditch effort to avoid being held accountable for any potential charges.
The Supreme Court’s decision leaves the question of whether Trump could be prosecuted while still in office for state-level or federal crimes up in the air. Trump’s legal team had been arguing in a pair of cases that both the U.S. Attorney General and the President himself had immunity from any state or federal prosecution. The Supreme Court justices had indicated they wanted to wait until the D.C. Circuit Court could review the case before making a decision.
The two cases themselves relate to Trump’s long-standing commitment to refusing to release his tax returns despite numerous calls, both from journalists and congressional lawmakers. One case relates to a New York state grand jury’s demand that Trump turn over his financial records and the other relates to multiple congressional requests for the same documents.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, many Democratic lawmakers and legal analysts have criticized Trump for seeking to use the court system for his own gain and to avoid accountability. Attorney General William Barr defended the President’s position, stating that no individual should be above the law and that it is ultimately up to the court to decide on the merits of a case.
Regardless of the outcome, the Supreme Court’s decision to wait for the D.C. Circuit Court to review the case is a potentially significant move in the ongoing legal battle between Trump and his opponents. It may signal the justices’ reluctance to address the case, or it may be an indication that the judges are taking their time to ensure that a just verdict is reached. Regardless, the decision to wait and see appears that any potential trial or charges against the President could remain unresolved until after the upcoming election.
