Smith wrote that it was “of imperative public importance” that the high court take up the question so that the trial can move forward as planned.
UPDATE: The Supreme Court has approved Jack Smith’s motion to expedite the petition for certiorari before judgment and has said that former President Donald Trump must answer the petition before 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
Loading this lets X set cookies and collect data.
View on XOn Monday, special counsel Jack Smith asked for the Supreme Court to step in and decide whether 2024 GOP frontrunner and former President Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution in the Jan. 6 conspiracy case brought forth for alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
"This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office," Smith wrote in the court filing, according to NBC News.
Smith wrote that it was "of imperative public importance" that the high court take up the question so that the trial could move forward as planned.
US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan denied a motion on Dec. 7 from Trump’s team arguing that he has presidential immunity and the indictment should be dismissed. Trump appealed the order and asked for the case to be put on hold.
Smith asked the court to respond by December 18, and then act immediately on the request to circumnavigate the appeals process in order to prevent delay in the case that is set to take place in March.
A federal grand jury in Washington indicted Trump on four charges in August: conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction, and conspiracy against the right to vote and to have one’s vote counted.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
