Former President and 2024 Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump expressed frustration over special counsel Jack Smith’s decision to involve the Supreme Court in determining whether presidential immunity shields Trump from prosecution.
According to a report by Salon on Friday, December 15, Trump’s legal team had previously argued that he is immune from prosecution, citing that his alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election were part of his official duties.
During a rally in Iowa, Trump criticized the move to expedite the process, stating, “Now they’re saying, ‘Let’s rush it to the Supreme– we gotta rush it, rush it, rush it.’
They could have started three years ago.
Everything– nothing changed.
They could have started three years ago, but they didn’t. They started just recently with this crap.”
Trump asserted that the urgency was driven by a desire to secure a guilty plea from the Supreme Court, a notion that was debunked since the Supreme Court cannot rule on an individual’s guilt.
Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance, speaking on MSNBC, interpreted Trump’s recent legal maneuvers as a “delay game.”
She explained, “Trump has filed a motion to dismiss the charges against him on immunity grounds, and now today we see him in front of the court of appeals saying ‘but wait a second, don’t rule on my motion too fast.
No need to expedite it. Let’s take our time here.'”
Vance emphasized that any criminal defendant facing indictment and seeking a motion to dismiss would typically want a quick resolution.
She concluded that Trump’s actions suggest an understanding that his immunity motion is not a strong argument, stating, “Even Trump understands that his immunity motion is a loser.”
The former president’s claim that the opposition is attempting to secure a guilty plea from the Supreme Court was criticized for its lack of legal basis.
Legal analysts argue that the Supreme Court’s role is not to determine guilt or innocence but to interpret the law.
The assertion raises questions about the motivations behind Trump’s legal strategy and the perceived attempt to prolong the legal proceedings.
As the case unfolds, the tension between Trump and the special counsel’s office is evident, with each side employing different strategies.
Trump’s frustration at the perceived acceleration of the legal process and the accusation of a political agenda underscores the high stakes surrounding the investigation into his alleged actions related to the 2020 election.
In the coming weeks, the legal battle is expected to intensify, shedding light on the intricacies of presidential immunity and the broader implications for accountability at the highest levels of governments.
The clash between Trump and the legal system will likely continue to be a focal point in the ongoing discussions about the rule of law and the responsibilities of those who have held the highest office in the United States.