Special Counsel Jack Smith just dropped the hammer on Donald Trump
Jack Smith has asked the Supreme Court to quickly rule against Donald Trump’s claim that he has “presidential immunity,” so that the criminal case against Trump will proceed on time. Smith will get his way. Smith is playing three steps ahead of a hapless Trump. All Trump can do is whine.
To be clear, the March 2024 trial date wasn’t in any danger to begin with. The U.S. Court of Appeals just matter of factly said in a filing the other day that Trump’s trial will take place well before the 2024 election.
But after Trump laughably claimed that he doesn’t recognize Judge Chutkan’s authority, this is Jack Smith’s way of using Trump’s words against him.
The Supreme Court has consistently made clear that it wants no part in Trump’s criminal cases. So the supreme could quickly rule that the trial will proceed normally. Or it could quickly decline to rule, which would give the authority to the U.S. Court of Appeals, which again, just stated that Trump’s trial will take place on time.
There’s no scenario where this goes well for Trump – which is the point. The most surefire way to win is to set things up such that you win no matter the outcome. Which is what Jack Smith is doing.
