Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) stated on Sunday that the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to send former President Donald Trump’s presidential immunity case back to lower courts for further review. The highest court recently heard arguments from President Trump’s lawyers and special counsel Jack Smith’s team regarding his immunity from prosecution in connection to Mr. Smith’s election case. President Trump has claimed absolute immunity, while the special counsel disagrees.
During the hearing, some conservative-leaning justices seemed inclined to agree with some of President Trump’s arguments, while Chief Justice John Roberts suggested sending the case back to an appeals court in Washington. Earlier this year, a panel of judges on that court rejected the former president’s arguments, leading to his appeal to the Supreme Court.
Senator Graham, a lawyer himself, believes that the Supreme Court will determine that presidential immunity exists for President Trump, similar to other presidents. He anticipates that the case will be sent back to lower courts to define the scope of presidential immunity and differentiate between presidential and personal actions.
Chief Justice Roberts expressed skepticism towards the Washington appeals court’s ruling, indicating a lack of conviction in their arguments. Senator Graham criticized the multiple cases against President Trump, labeling them as politically motivated distractions from more pressing issues such as inflation, crime, and border security.
President Trump, embroiled in legal battles, must attend a Manhattan court daily during the trial and abide by a partial gag order. He has denounced the trial as politically motivated, aiming to silence him and hinder his presidential campaign efforts as the presumptive Republican nominee.
Despite the ongoing trial, President Trump has continued to engage with his followers on Truth Social, where he has nearly 7 million followers. He has dismissed the trial as a “witch hunt” and election interference, questioning the judge’s impartiality.
Witnesses, including a former Trump assistant, a bank official, and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, have testified in the trial. President Trump faces charges in New York related to falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments made to adult performer Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels.
Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt believes that the trial will backfire, leading to increased support for President Trump among Americans from various backgrounds. She anticipates a growing backlash against Joe Biden and the Democrats for orchestrating what she deems a “bogus show trial” months before the election.
Overall, the legal battles surrounding President Trump’s immunity and criminal charges continue to unfold, shaping the political landscape as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
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