Staff Reports
The legal circus surrounding Donald Trump continues to unfold, with a judge set to hear arguments regarding the federal election subversion cases. This marks the first status conference since the Supreme Court generously handed down a ruling granting former presidents ample immunity from criminal charges—one might say, a “get out of jail free” card that has some legal eagles squawking.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan will preside over the case, where Trump is facing allegations of orchestrating an insurrection—or, as many conservatives prefer to call it, political maneuvering gone awry. While Judge Chutkan gets ready to sift through the theatrics, Trump will likely enjoy his 24-karat lifestyle elsewhere, not gracing the courtroom with his presence. The courtroom antics are expected to keep the legal titans busy, with proposals and counter-proposals flying between the prosecution and the defense as if they were hitting tennis balls in a match.
Read "Trump election subversion case back in court as judge holds hearing that could set its path forward' on SmartNews: If we cannot hold Trump accountable.. we cannot hold anybody responsible!! Save democracy by holding Trump’s feet to the fire🥴 https://t.co/VT2RjNuZ1X
— Kenneth j labrie (@Kennethjlabrie2) September 5, 2024
The special counsel, Jack Smith, recently found himself with a pink slip for some of his accusations against Trump, cutting out allegations related to the Justice Department, which the Supreme Court deemed off-limits for the former president. Meanwhile, defense attorneys are preparing a buffet of motions to dismiss the case, citing a Florida judge’s ruling that Smith’s whole special counsel charade was unconstitutional—one more delightful twist in this ongoing saga.
A trial is unlikely to go down before the November election, as the legal heavyweights on both sides are still girding their loins for battle. Judge Chutkan’s task is to decide what allegations stick and what needs to be tossed out like yesterday’s trash. If this spectacle has proven anything, it’s that legal showdowns involving Trump are as likely as a midwinter snowstorm in the Sahara—beautifully improbable.
With the Supreme Court’s July ruling establishing that former presidents enjoy absolute immunity for their constitutional duties, voters might wonder if this all serves a deeper purpose. Is this an attempt to ensure Trump’s name remains in the headlines going into the election? As the legal clowns juggle their firesticks, Trump’s team is gearing up to refer back to this immunity, portraying themselves as the underdogs in a mainstream media-led onslaught. Meanwhile, other federal prosecutions lurk in the shadows, but after a July dismissal of a case involving classified documents, the special counsel isn’t winning any popularity contests. It’s more of a soap opera than a courtroom drama, and the audience is here for the spectacle.
