Trump seeks to postpone sentencing and set aside verdict in his hush money trial after the Supreme Court's immunity ruling
NBCJUN 22 2024
SCOTUS Won't Intervene in Trump Hush Money Case
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The Facts
The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on Monday dismissed a motion in Missouri v. New York that asked justices to intervene in former Pres. Donald Trump's hush money case by lifting his gag order and deferring his sentencing. They didn't provide a reason for their decision.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed the lawsuit against the state of New York on July 3, alleging the case against the Republican nominee would violate the First Amendment rights of Missouri citizens to hear from a presidential candidate.
Under the US Constitution, SCOTUS has the so-called "original jurisdiction" in disputes between states, meaning that any interstate lawsuit goes directly to the high court. Such cases are rare but have been seen at least twice since 2020.
The Spin
Republican narrative
SCOTUS should have intervened in this case. The gag order imposed upon Trump clearly violates the First Amendment rights of every American to receive information and ideas, as established in Stanley v. Georgia.
Democratic narrative
SCOTUS made the right — and obvious — decision by rejecting Missouri's lawsuit. It's completely absurd to claim that the gag order placed on the former president and his impending sentencing amount to election interference.