Attorneys for Donald Trump have asked a federal judge to halt proceedings in his classified documents case to consider the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity. Trump’s attorneys argue that the majority of the case should be dismissed based on this ruling, which grants immunity to presidents for official actions taken while in office.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to 40 counts in his indictment, filed a motion to dismiss the charges in February, citing presidential immunity related to his alleged decision to move records from the White House to Mar-a-Lago while he was in office. The recent Supreme Court ruling supports Trump’s argument by stating that Congress cannot criminalize the President’s conduct in carrying out executive responsibilities.
Trump’s attorneys also referenced Justice Clarence Thomas’ opinion to challenge special counsel Jack Smith’s authority in the case. The Justice Department has not yet responded to Trump’s latest filing.
Previously, Trump’s lawyers successfully used the Supreme Court ruling to delay his sentencing in a separate case involving falsifying business records. The sentencing has been postponed until September while the judge considers Trump’s arguments.
This article first appeared on NBCNews.com and details Trump’s legal efforts to dismiss his charges based on presidential immunity and challenges to the authority of the special counsel.
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