Trump immunity claim taken up by Supreme Court, keeping D.C. 2020 election trial paused

Washington — The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would decide whether former President Donald Trump is entitled to broad immunity from federal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts that occurred while he was in office.

The order from the high court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, marks the second time in a month that the justices will weigh a case with tremendous implications for the former president. In this dispute, the Supreme Court will consider whether the prosecution of Trump can move forward, or whether he is shielded from criminal liability.

The court has never before decided whether a former president is immune from criminal liability for allegedly illegal acts committed while in office. Trump is the first former president to be indicted, and he has pleaded not guilty.