Supreme Court Ruling Clears Path for Trump, Yet Hurdles Remain

The Supreme Court’s recent decision has smoothed yet another bump on Donald Trump’s road back to the White House, though significant challenges still lie ahead. In Washington D.C., Trump is entangled in four federal charges accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election results and inciting his followers to disrupt the Electoral College count on January 6, 2021. He has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

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Additionally, Trump is embroiled in legal battles across several states: in New York, he’s charged with falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments before the 2016 election; in Georgia, he’s accused of trying to overturn the state’s election results; and in Florida, he faces federal charges for mishandling classified documents. Collectively, these cases amount to 91 criminal counts against him.

Trump has largely succeeded in delaying these cases through a barrage of pretrial motions and unforeseen controversies, particularly in Florida and Georgia, where the proceedings have been significantly slowed. The federal case regarding election interference, initially set to commence this Monday, has been indefinitely postponed due to appeals concerning presidential immunity—a matter now under the Supreme Court’s consideration.

After U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan halted the case to deliberate on Trump’s claim to presidential immunity, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against him. However, the Supreme Court’s decision is required to proceed with the trial. Norm Eisen, former special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump’s first impeachment, emphasized the urgency of the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the trial to move forward.

The debate over Trump’s immunity from criminal prosecution is slated for the week of April 22. With the other three cases also experiencing delays, Trump’s first criminal trial is expected to be the New York hush money case, with jury selection beginning on March 25.

Even if convicted, these legal troubles wouldn’t bar Trump from seeking the presidency again. However, polls suggest that a conviction could sway voter opinion, with more than half of voters in battleground states, including nearly a quarter of Republicans, indicating they would not support Trump if he were convicted.

Trump, reflecting on his legal challenges, noted that historically such situations would severely damage a political figure’s chances. Yet, he claims his popularity has only increased amidst these controversies. As the 2024 election approaches, it appears more likely that the decision on Trump’s political future will rest in the hands of the voters rather than the courts. “I was not waiting on the Supreme Court to save American democracy. That’s up to American voters,” stated Griswold, echoing a sentiment that the ultimate judgment on Trump’s return to the presidency will be made at the ballot box.