In a recent court filing, Special Counsel Jack Smith has pushed back against former President Donald Trump's claim of presidential immunity. Smith argues that granting a former president absolute immunity from criminal prosecution could potentially encourage future presidents to commit crimes to remain in office. The filing comes just days before oral arguments are set to start in the federal election interference case before the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Despite facing various legal challenges, including being disqualified from holding public office in some states, Trump's team is expected to file appeals in response to these decisions. Two states have already removed Trump from their primary ballots based on the constitutional ban on insurrectionists holding office, and Oregon is currently considering a similar decision. The Secretary of State in Oregon, a Democrat, is requesting the court to dismiss the case on procedural grounds. Trump argues that having a candidate on the ballot in some states and not others could lead to confusion, chaos, and a constitutional crisis.
