Jack Smith rebuts Trump’s efforts to further delay trial in new SCOTUS request: report

14 February 2024

Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith fired back Wednesday, according to NBC News, in response to former President Donald Trump's emergency application seeking to push back his January 6 election interference trial.

NBC News Supreme Court reporter Lawrence Hurley reports via X (formerly Twitter), "NEW: Jack Smith tells Supreme Court to reject Trump's bid to further delay his election interference trial, but adds that if the justices decide to intervene they should hear case as soon as March and issue a quick ruling on the immunity issue."

Hurley adds, "Smith had previously told SCOTUS it needed to decide this issue but tries to square that with his argument against a stay by saying the court's refusal to hear his earlier appeal is a sign that it didn't think it needs to." The reporter also emphasizes, "FWIW (for what it's worth) the court already has a pretty busy March calendar including the big abortion pill case on March 26, but presumably they could always fit another one in."

According to NBC, Smith wrote in his filing, "Delay in the resolution of these charges threatens to frustrate the public interest in a speedy and fair verdict — a compelling interest in every criminal case and one that has unique national importance here." He added, the case "involves federal criminal charges against a former president for alleged criminal efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election, including through the use of official power."

This comes after "the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a ruling against Trump on the immunity issue on Feb. 6," NBC notes. "The three-judge panel gave Trump time to file an emergency request at the Supreme Court that would prevent the decision from going into effect."

The news outlet also notes if the former president wins in November, "he would be in a position to order that the charges in the Washington case be dismissed. If already convicted, he could seek to pardon himself."

NBC's full report is here.

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