Bill Mears, Shannon Bream
Fox NewsFri, 22 Dec 2023 02:45 UTC
© Drew Angerer/Getty Images/Eduardo Munez Alvarez/APSpecial Counsel Jack Smith • Former US President Donald Trump
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to issue an expedited ruling on whether former President Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution related to the 2020 election interference case.
Appellate courts are hearing the immunity case, but the Supreme Court ruled Friday that it would proceed as normal.Trump's criminal trial in Washington, D.C. was scheduled to begin on March 4, but it's unclear if the Supreme Court ruling will force a delay.
Special Counsel Jack Smith initially asked the Supreme Court to expedite arguments in the presidential immunity case.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has already indicated it would expedite its consideration of the immunity case.
Trump's legal team earlier this week filed a written response to Smith's request, urging the Supreme Court not to rush things.The brief stated:
"This appeal presents momentous, historic questions. An erroneous denial of a claim of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution unquestionably warrants this Court's review. The Special Counsel contends that '[i]t is of imperative public importance that respondent's claims of immunity be resolved by this Court.'
"That does not entail, however, that the Court should take the case before the lower courts complete their review. Every jurisdictional and prudential consideration calls for this Court to allow the appeal to proceed first in the D.C. Court."
Trump is charged with
conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.
Comment: Court contagion? States are beginning to line up and take a number!
The FBI said on Friday that it is looking into threats made against the Colorado Supreme Court after the higher court deemed former President Donald Trump ineligible for the state's 2024 Republican primary ballot.
A non-profit research organization discovered a wave of online threats against the four justices who ruled in favor of keeping the former president off the ballot this week, deeming him ineligible to run for president because he allegedly violated section three of the 14th Amendment.
Vikki Migoya, spokeswoman for the FBI Denver Field Office, told NBC News:
"The FBI is aware of the situation and working with local law enforcement. We will vigorously pursue investigations of any threat or use of violence committed by someone who uses extremist views to justify their actions regardless of motivation."
The non-profit said the threats were made against the justices in the aftermath of Tuesday's ruling, including some social media users releasing the contact information and office building addresses of the four justices. Three other justices voted against removing Trump from the ballot.
The Colorado State Patrol, which provides security for the justices, said it would assist with the FBI's investigation as necessary but did not comment on any additional security measures they were putting in place.
The news comes as threats against public officials are spiking to record levels, according to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. She claimed that the department this week is already investigating threats to kill FBI agents, a Supreme Court justice, and three presidential candidates. Monaco told ABC News:
"What we've seen is an unprecedented rise in threats to public officials across the board: law enforcement agents, prosecutors, judges and election officials. And we are seeing that and responding to it,"
The ruling makes Colorado the first state to declare Trump ineligible to seek the presidency, but several other states are attempting to make the same case, including New York, Arizona, and Michigan.
Colorado's case is expected to go to the United States Supreme Court for a final ruling. Trump is also facing a total of 91 charges across four criminal indictments.
Comment: Court contagion? States are beginning to line up and take a number!