Former President Trump has made a bold argument to the Supreme Court, claiming that he should be immune from criminal charges to prevent potential blackmail and extortion of future presidents. In a 67-page brief filed by Trump and his legal team, he expressed concerns that denying him immunity would leave every future president vulnerable to political attacks and post-office trauma at the hands of opponents.
The Supreme Court is set to hear initial arguments on the issue of presidential immunity on April 25. This comes after Trump's assertion that he should be shielded from prosecution related to Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into alleged election interference in 2020 and the events of January 6.
Smith's trial has been put on hold pending the Supreme Court's ruling, which is anticipated to be delivered in mid-June. The crux of Trump's argument lies in the belief that criminal immunity is essential to preserve the strength, authority, and decisiveness of the presidency, as the threat of prosecution could be used as a political tool to influence critical presidential decisions.