In a strong message to the Supreme Court on Monday, former Wyoming Republican Representative Liz Cheney warned against former President Donald Trump’s assertion of presidential immunity.
The former president has been attempting to invoke presidential immunity as a defense to protect himself from numerous criminal and civil legal battles. One of the most prominent instances where Trump, who is expected to be the GOP presidential nominee in 2024, has invoked this defense is in his federal election interference case related to the events that unfolded during the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. This particular case was initiated by Jack Smith, a special counsel appointed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
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The previous president faced charges in August for four federal felony counts: 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. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains that the indictment is politically motivated.
This Thursday, the Supreme Court justices will listen to oral arguments to decide whether President Trump is protected by presidential immunity and cannot be charged with crimes for his actions during his time in office.
In an opinion column published on Monday by the New York Times, Liz Cheney emphasizes the urgency for the Supreme Court to swiftly address Trump’s claim of presidential immunity. Cheney cautions that any delay in the court’s decision could prevent the public from hearing crucial and significant evidence related to Trump’s alleged interference in the election.
According to Cheney, it is crucial for the justices to acknowledge the potential harm that could arise if the court fails to promptly and definitively address these matters. She emphasizes that if there is a delay in the trial of the Trump case this year, the public might never be exposed to significant and momentous evidence that has been gathered by the grand jury. Moreover, our justice system may fail to hold the individual who bears the greatest responsibility for the events of January 6 accountable.
Cheney, an outspoken GOP critic of Trump, played an active role on the committee tasked with investigating the riot. In December 2022, the committee released an extensive 845-page report, which unequivocally held Trump accountable for the events of the riot and proposed that he should be held criminally liable.
Cheney, in her opinion piece, highlighted her involvement in the committee as she persistently cautioned against Trump’s attempts to prolong his trial.
“The reality is clear, and the Supreme Court should acknowledge it promptly by recognizing that no immunity is applicable in this case,” she emphasized.
Cheney weighed in on the matter following Trump’s recent activity on Truth Social, his own social media platform. Trump has been emphasizing his claim to presidential immunity and frequently targeting President Joe Biden in his posts on Saturday.
In a bold statement, he emphasized, “Taking away my presidential immunity would mean taking away crooked Joe Biden’s presidential immunity.”
In a separate post, written in all-caps, the former president emphasized the importance of presidential immunity. He stated that without this protection, it would be difficult for a president to effectively carry out their duties, thereby posing a significant and enduring threat to the United States of America.
During the first week of his criminal hush money trial, President Trump requested to be excused from attending Thursday’s Court hearing on his presidential immunity defense. However, Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case in New York, denied his request.
