The dispute between President Donald Trump and the House Democrats is nearing a critical point as his lawyers have requested the Supreme Court hear their claims of executive immunity.
The ongoing litigation between the two sides has been going on for months, and produced several court rulings. Now, Trump’s lawyers have stepped up the stakes by requesting the high court take up the issue of executive immunity and rule on whether or not Trump’s immunity from congressional subpoenas is absolute.
This is not the first time such a move has been attempted, but it is quite unique. The request for the Supreme Court to take up the issue has been met with mixed reactions. Some legal scholars believe the Supreme Court’s decision would not only set a precedent for this particular case, but could also have a lasting impact on the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government.
The argument put forth by Trump’s lawyers is that he is being deprived of his constitutional rights as he is unable to attend congressional inquiries, or assert executive privilege due to congressional subpoenas. They are requesting the court to settle the matter and provide clarity.
The legal dispute boils down to whether or not President Trump is protected from congressional subpoenas under the Constitution’s absolute executive immunity provision. This legal battle could potentially set the shape of executive-legislative relations and the scope of executive privilege for years to come.
In essence, this could be a momentous decision determining the scope of presidential privilege and how far Congress can go in its attempt to impeach the president. Moreover, the Supreme Court would be deciding on a case where the executive and legislative branches are both asserting their powers with no clear winner in sight.
It remains to be seen how this case will be decided, but regardless the ramifications are sure to be massive. We will be sure to follow the developments of this story as it continues to unfold.