Former President Trump has won numerous legal battles in recent weeks, pausing most litigation and delaying others that could have complicated campaigning during the general election.
of The Supreme Court has ruled in the case of Trump v. United States. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have effective immunity from prosecution for official acts while in office, but not for unofficial acts, leaving it to lower courts to decide exactly where the line is between official and unofficial acts.
“Thus, the President cannot be prosecuted for the exercise of core Constitutional powers and, at a minimum, enjoys a presumptive right to immunity from prosecution for all official acts,” the majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, stated. “This immunity applies equally to all staff members of the Oval Office, regardless of politics, policy, or party affiliation.”
Donald Trump arrived at Trump Tower on May 30, 2024, after being convicted on 34 counts of first-degree falsifying business records. (Felipe Ramares for Fox News Digital)
The issue of presidential immunity stems from a lawsuit filed against Trump by special counsel Jack Smith on Jan. 6. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges. That trial had been on hold in lower courts pending a Supreme Court ruling clearing all charges related to the president’s official acts.
The case was remanded to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Smith requested a stay to amend and prepare his arguments in the case. Judge Tanya Chutkan granted Smith’s request. A joint status report is due by August 30, and a status conference is scheduled for September 5.
Trump immunity case: Supreme Court rules former presidents have broad protection from prosecution
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Trump’s lawyers requested a stay of the former president’s sentencing in New York State v. Trump, in which he was convicted on all counts of first-degree falsifying business records following an unprecedented criminal trial that stemmed from an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Trump hails Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling as ‘a major victory for the Constitution and democracy’
The sentencing was originally scheduled for July 11, ahead of the Republican National Convention, where Trump is set to be formally nominated as the GOP’s presidential candidate. Judge Juan Marchan agreed to the delay and said a hearing on the case would take place on September 18.
Donald Trump and Jack Smith (Getty Images)
But days later, Trump’s lawyers asked Marchan to overturn the former president’s conviction in New York v. Trump.
Trump’s legal team cited the Supreme Court’s ruling, saying the court “should dismiss the indictment and set aside the jury’s verdict based on violations of presidential immunity and the Supremacy Clause.” In a formal motion, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche pointed to the Supreme Court’s immunity decision and argued that certain evidence related to “official duties” should not have been admitted during the trial.
Trump asks New York judge to overturn conviction and indictment following Supreme Court immunity decision
Specifically, Blanche argued that testimony from former White House officials and staff was improperly admitted during the trial.
Branche argued that Bragg “violated presidential immunity by using similar evidence of official conduct in the grand jury proceedings that led to the politically motivated indictments in this case.”
Ruling on the motion is pending.
Judge dismisses Trump’s Florida classified documents lawsuit
Days later, U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon dismissed Smith’s classified records lawsuit against Trump.
Trump, who was accused of improperly storing classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, has pleaded not guilty to all 37 felony charges in Smith’s investigation, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and making false statements.
But Judge Cannon, citing the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, found Smith’s appointment and funding were illegal and dismissed the suit in its entirety.
U.S. Supreme Court, November 15, 2023, Washington. (AP Photo/Maryam Zuhaib, File)
The Appointments Clause provides that “Ambassadors, other Ministers and Consuls, Justices of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States are appointed by the President, subject to the Advice and Consent of the Senate, but the appointment of inferior officers may be left to the President alone, or to the Courts, or to the Heads of Departments.”
However, Smith was not confirmed by the Senate and is appealing the decision.
Trump appeals New York’s $454 million civil fraud judgment
Meanwhile, in Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis has charged Trump with crimes related to alleged election interference in 2020. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The judge in that case dismissed six charges against Trump, saying Willis did not plead sufficient detail.
The case was left in limbo after it was reported that Willis had an “inappropriate relationship” with Nathan Wade, a prosecutor she hired to help with the case against Trump, who later resigned.
Last month, the Georgia Court of Appeals suspended proceedings against Willis’ lawsuit seeking to disbar him until it can hear it in October, another major setback for Willis.
Jack Smith, Alvin Bragg, Fanny Willis (Getty Images)
The Georgia Court of Appeals announced last week that it would hear Trump’s argument to disqualify Willis on Dec. 5, one month after the 2024 presidential election.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s decision could be applied by Trump’s lawyers in some of the civil lawsuits he is fighting.
Trump was ordered to pay more than $83 million in damages in a civil defamation lawsuit brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll after he denied accusations that he raped her in the 1990s.
Carole claims that Trump raped her in 1996 at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across from Trump Tower in Manhattan.
The jury found that Carroll suffered injuries as a result of comments made by Trump at the White House in June 2019.
Trump’s denial came during a White House press conference while he was president, and his lawyers could argue that the denial was part of official presidential conduct.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Following Trump’s denial, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit, claiming that Trump’s response had damaged her reputation.
Trump is also appealing a civil fraud lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, for which he was ordered to pay more than $450 million.
Trump’s legal team filed papers this week with the intermediate appeals court arguing the ruling is “unconstitutional.”
