Nineteen retired generals, admirals, and former top civilian defense officials have submitted a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, opposing former President Donald Trump’s request for immunity from prosecution. They argue that granting such immunity would pose a significant threat to national security.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliberate on Trump’s claim of presidential immunity on April 25, according to The Gateway Pundit. This decision, anticipated by analysts to arrive possibly by late June, holds substantial implications for the timeline of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s case against Trump, potentially delaying the trial until after the 2024 election.
Trump’s legal team had urged the Supreme Court to halt the immunity decision related to Jack Smith’s January 6 case in Washington, D.C., after a federal appeals court, influenced by appointees of Joe Biden, rejected Trump’s immunity claim.
The DC Circuit Court of Appeals, comprising Judges Florence Pan and Michelle Childs (both Biden appointees) and Karen Henderson (a George W. Bush appointee), stressed the importance of allowing the prosecution to proceed, citing public interest and governmental structure.
Trump’s lawyers contend that a former president is shielded from federal prosecution for actions performed while in office, a stance challenged by the recent appeals court decision.
A group of retired military officers, including former four-star generals, admirals, and past secretaries of military branches, filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, cautioning against accepting Trump’s claims of immunity for official acts. The brief, signed by officials spanning Democratic and Republican administrations, warns of potential threats to national security and democratic principles, should Trump’s legal argument prevail.
