Former President Donald Trump is allowing the Jan. 6-related cases against him to move forward by not petitioning the Supreme Court, which is already three-deep in Trump appeals.
According to Politico, Trump opted not to ask the justices to overturn the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals ruling from December that rejected his claim of presidential immunity from prosecution for conduct while in office.
Therefore, at least three lawsuits brought against him after the breach of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, can advance to a period of limited evidence-gathering to determine the nature of Trump's activities on that day.
The lawsuits, which were brought by congressional lawmakers and injured police officers, were filed in 2021 but have been on hold amid Trump's push to have the courts grant him immunity from being sued for actions he took as president.
While the decision from the Washington, D.C., appeals court will stand, the ruling from the three-judge panel did not completely bar Trump from attempting to prove his claim.
Politico reported that Trump had until Thursday to file an appeal with the Supreme Court to reverse the appeals court decision under an agreement with the plaintiffs in the Jan. 6 cases against him. No appeal was filed as of Thursday night and Trump aides told Politico not to expect one.
Trump's allies say he could rekindle a challenge to the ruling after the next round of evidence-gathering and a ruling has been issued on whether the cases can proceed.
"President Trump will continue to fight for Presidential immunity across the spectrum," Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, told Politico.
Minus a clash over civil immunity, the Supreme Court is already considering three cases that could deal a major blow to Trump's viability as the likely 2024 GOP presidential nominee.
More than two hours were spent last week in arguments before the justices over whether to uphold or strike down a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that found Trump ineligible to appear on the state's ballot because he allegedly participated in an insurrection.
Trump has never been charged with or convicted of insurrection.
The high court has also agreed to take up a case from a Jan. 6 defendant that may vacate two of four charges Trump faces in the election interference case against him.
According to Politico, the justices could decide to pause that trial while they consider Trump's claim that former presidents are largely shielded from criminal prosecution over matters even slightly related to their official responsibilities.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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