Two courts are not enough – not for Donald Trump, not on a Thursday.
His criminal trial and Supreme Court hearing, legal events one and two, were already underway when he scored the hat trick.
A New York judge announced he was upholding the verdict and $83 million in damages against Trump for defaming writer E Jean Carroll.
There’s a lot going on, legally, and there’s a lot at stake for Trump.
Follow: how the day went in court
The Supreme Court hearing concerned the January 6 riots, electoral subversion and Trump’s alleged involvement. It is a crime against democracy, taking into account the serious legal danger it faces.
His lawyers argued that he should be protected by immunity from prosecution for what he did while serving as president.
The prosecution’s argument is that he acted as a private citizen and not as an official.
Trump was not present at the hearing in Washington DC, but he liked what he heard.
The prevailing legal assessment is that discussions with the nine-judge panel indicate that, while they do not necessarily agree with his argument for immunity, they have enough questions to delay the prosecution further.
Most seem to think that presidents have some immunity from criminal prosecution for their official actions, even if the exact parameters are unclear.
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What is clear is that if the trial court is instructed to determine which of Trump’s allegedly illegal acts qualify for immunity as official acts, it will be a protracted process that could easily extend the trial beyond the November election.
Such a scenario would suit Trump. The less criminal exposure he has before the US vote, the better for him.
If he manages to postpone the trial until November and regain the White House, he will be able to use the power of his office to make the charges disappear.
Photo: Reuters
The New York trial of silence is the only one of four criminal trials that have already been initiated.
The Supreme Court appears determined to reduce its chances of being the only one before the United States goes to the polls.
It’s the pressing question of the truth, the whole truth and nothing more than the truth about the man who would be president, and it’s a race against time.
This stress test of the foundations of American democracy and the rule of law becomes increasingly stressful.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
