Conservatives Urge Supreme Court to Reject Trump's Immunity Claim

A Republican-affiliated organization is investing $2 million in a multi-state effort to persuade the Supreme Court to deny former President Donald Trump’s assertion of presidential immunity amid his federal criminal trials.

In April, the Supreme Court considered arguments from Trump's legal team regarding whether a sitting president is immune from criminal prosecution. Recently, in Manhattan, Trump was convicted on 34 felony charges for falsifying business records tied to payments allegedly made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before his 2016 election win. These charges are related to actions taken prior to his presidency.

The primary focus of the Supreme Court case is Trump's federal indictment, managed by special counsel Jack Smith. Trump faces four charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump has denied these charges, claiming political bias.

Republicans Tell Supreme Court to Rule Against Donald Trump https://t.co/rQMdEcTyqs pic.twitter.com/Zocj0Eh9Zu

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) June 7, 2024

On Friday, Republicans for the Rule of Law, a nonprofit formed in 2019 during Robert Mueller's investigation into Trump’s Russian connections, began an awareness campaign featuring 25 conservative testimonials advocating for the Supreme Court to reject Trump's "absolute immunity" claim. The group emphasizes that justice should not be compromised by special protections for sitting presidents.

"The special sauce in this campaign is that the testimonials are not highly produced; just authentic and in the people's own voices," Tony Franquiz, a spokesperson for the group, told Newsweek. "We believe the messenger is most important than the message."

The Trump campaign was contacted by Newsweek for comment but did not respond.

Running from June 7 to June 23 on platforms like YouTube and Hulu, the campaign targets 12 states, including critical battlegrounds for the 2024 election: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Despite the inclusion of swing states, Franquiz indicated that the focus lies elsewhere. The campaign’s dual strategy targets states where the immunity argument is less popular, such as Alabama and Texas, and states directly impacted by election controversies, like Georgia and Pennsylvania.

"There would be no consequences [if absolute immunity were granted]," Dolores, a Pennsylvania conservative, stated in her testimonial. "The Supreme Court must uphold that a president is not immune for his or her crimes while in office."

Another testimonial from Kevin, a Virginia conservative, warned that granting Trump’s request would place him above the law. "That threatens the very foundations of our Democratic Republic," he said.

The Supreme Court faces additional pressure due to Justice Samuel Alito's involvement in the case. Alito has declined to recuse himself despite calls for his disqualification after displaying an upside-down American flag, associated with Trump's "Stop the Steal" campaign, outside his home prior to President Joe Biden's inauguration.

Republicans for the Rule of Law, which has garnered millions of supporters, resonates with Republicans and center-right voters prioritizing law and justice over individual candidates or politics. Franquiz noted that participants were chosen based on ideology rather than voting history or intentions.

The group's focus is on countering threats to institutions upholding the rule of law, which Franquiz described as "dangerous and anti-conservative."

"We hear there are others who feel this way," Franquiz said. "The sentiment is widely spread [even among those who didn't participate and are alarmed]. There may be a breaking point, other breaking points. Everyone has their own story."