Trump seeks Supreme Court pause in 2020 election case

Former US President Donald Trump has petitioned the Supreme Court to halt a lower court’s decision denying him presidential immunity from prosecution.

Trump had argued that he couldn’t be prosecuted for actions taken during his presidency, particularly in a case involving election interference. However, three lower court judges rejected this claim, saying that he is subject to prosecution like any other citizen.

Trump’s legal team contended that holding a criminal trial during an election campaign would severely disrupt his ability to campaign against President Biden. They emphasised the potential for a prolonged trial to interfere with Trump’s electoral activities.

The Supreme Court now faces the decision of whether to delay the ruling, allowing Trump to pursue an appeal. Should the conservative-leaning court grant this request, it would significantly postpone the landmark criminal case accusing Trump of orchestrating illegal efforts to overturn the 2020 election, potentially extending beyond the November election.

If the Supreme Court opts not to pause the ruling, proceedings for the federal trial overseen by Judge Tanya Chutkan would likely be scheduled, possibly occurring in the spring.