Preview: Trump’s Racking Up Supreme Court Loyalty Points
Jan 9, 2025
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A deep dive into the legal maze surrounding Donald Trump's prosecutions highlights his upcoming Supreme Court appeal concerning presidential immunity. Guests dissect the implications of this case, revealing the intricate legal precedents at play. Expert insights illuminate the challenges Trump faces, providing a captivating look at the intersection of law and politics amid a whirlwind of constitutional news.
06:16
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Quick takeaways
Trump's legal team is attempting to expand presidential immunity to include personal conduct, raising significant constitutional questions.
The podcast critiques the uneven legal process Trump faces compared to ordinary defendants, highlighting concerns about justice system integrity.
Deep dives
Supreme Court and Presidential Immunity Claims
The episode delves into the complexities surrounding Donald Trump's appeal to the Supreme Court regarding his sentencing in the Hush Money case. Trump's legal team is attempting to expand the concept of presidential immunity, arguing that it should extend to actions taken during the pre-presidential period. The New York case revolves around conduct deemed personal rather than official, raising questions about the applicability of immunity in such contexts. This situation illuminates the intricate legal arguments at play, particularly how issues of presidential immunity are being interpreted and potentially manipulated.
Legal Proceedings and the Two-Tiered Justice System
The discussion highlights the unique legal positioning of Trump compared to ordinary defendants, illustrating a potential two-tiered system of justice. Normally, defendants are required to undergo sentencing before they can raise procedural or substantive issues on appeal; however, Trump seeks to bypass this standard process. This exception raises concerns about fairness and consistency within the legal system, as it suggests that a separate, more favorable set of rules may apply to Trump. Such circumstances provoke critical reflections on the implications of privilege and the integrity of judicial processes in high-profile cases.
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Exploring Trump's Legal Challenges and Immunity Claims
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.* There is a cluster-you-know-what of constitutional and legal news this week, so Amicus Plus is popping up a little early with a bonus episode to tackle the Trump prosecutions portion of the melee ahead of Friday’s very important TikTok-ban arguments. Dahlia Lithwick is joined by Andrew Weissman, co-host of the MSNBC podcast "Prosecuting Donald Trump” (recently re-launched as “Main Justice” for…. obvious reasons!) Andrew is also author of two New York Times bestsellers, The Trump Indictmentsand Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation.
*We are not eating elephants. Please do not eat elephants.
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