Trump asks Supreme Court to review his immunity — RT World News

Former President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to overturn an earlier ruling that said he was not immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office, hoping to overturn the decision as he faces charges for alleged interference in the 2020 election.

In a motion filed Monday, Trump's defense team urged the nation's highest court to block last week's appeals court ruling, which he criticized. “A stunning violation of historical precedent and norms.”

In announcing the request, Trump's re-election campaign said the moratorium was necessary to prevent his political rivals from using it “The threat of future prosecution as a weapon, to effectively blackmail and blackmail him into influencing his most sensitive and important decisions.”

If the Supreme Court grants his request, Trump's election interference trial will remain stalled, having already been delayed for two months while lawyers debate the issue of immunity. Five of the court's nine justices – three of whom were appointed by Trump himself – would have to support the move.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the case against Trump, had previously asked the Supreme Court to urgently reconsider the matter, even before the Court of Appeals decision, but it was rejected without explanation.

The previous ruling stated that Trump does not enjoy special legal protection as an ordinary citizen “Any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as president no longer protects him from this prosecution.”

Smith charged Trump with four counts “Sabotaging the elections” He accused him of trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential race. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstructing an official proceeding – a reference to the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol. The 45th president pleaded not guilty and claimed presidential immunity, because he was still in office at the time of the unrest.