Supremes will consider Trump’s bid for immunity from prosecution

The U.S. Supreme Court said Wednesday that it would consider former President Donald Trump’s extraordinary argument that he is immune from prosecution on criminal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

In an unsigned, eight-sentence order, the court said it would hear oral arguments in the case during the week of April 22.

The statement from the conservative Supreme Court said judges would consider one question: “Whether and if so to what extent does a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.”

Trump’s claims of immunity have had a rocky go so far in court. A three-judge panel of the federal Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously rejected his argument this month.

The appeals court said Trump (photo bottom) was not immune from the four-count indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith that accuses him of conspiracy to defraud the U.S.

“For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant,” the appeals court wrote, adding that “any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as president no longer protects him against this prosecution.”

The Supreme Court, which has three members appointed by Trump, is widely expected to rule in his favor in a case over his ballot eligibility in the 2024 election. The court heard oral arguments in the ballot case earlier this month, and even its three liberal justices sounded skeptical of the idea of knocking Trump off the ballot.

But Trump may have a tougher time winning over the court in the immunity case. Some legal experts have seen Trump’s immunity claim as a delay tactic.