Supreme Court to hear Trump presidential immunity plea in election interference case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would hear arguments in April on whether presidential immunity protects Trump’s “conduct alleged to involve official acts.” Trump had appealed for a stay on a lower court ruling saying presidential immunity did not protect him from prosecution regarding his actions during the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Trump argues that presidential immunity protects actions within the “outer perimeter of his official responsibility.”

What does the government have to say about this? Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith says Trump’s actions on Jan. 6, 2021, were not part of his official capacity as president. In response to Trump’s appeal for a stay, the Justice Department asked the court to treat Trump’s motion to stay as a writ of certiorari: a petition to review the facts and hear expedited arguments.

Dig deeper: Read Daniel R. Suhr’s column in WORLD Opinions discussing how presidents should have freedom for official acts, but not at the expense of the law.