Supreme Court Rejects Missouri’s Lawsuit on Trump’s Hush Money Case
On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed a bold lawsuit filed by Missouri, which sought the court’s intervention in the high-profile hush money case involving former President Donald J. Trump. The case centers around allegations that Trump falsified business records, and the court’s decision effectively upholds the legal proceedings currently underway in New York.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey had petitioned the Supreme Court to postpone Trump’s sentencing, which is set for September 18, until after the upcoming election. Additionally, he requested the court to lift a gag order that restricts Trump’s public statements regarding the case. The Supreme Court’s brief order did not provide any detailed reasoning for its decision, but Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. expressed a willingness to allow the state to file its lawsuit, although they refrained from commenting on the lawsuit’s validity.
In his appeal, Bailey argued that his “modest request” would not impose any harm on New York. He emphasized that it was crucial for voters in Missouri and across the nation to have the opportunity to hear from a major-party candidate without interference from one state affecting the electorate’s ability to make an informed decision this November.
Much of Missouri’s proposed lawsuit focused on what it claimed were legal deficiencies and political motivations behind the case against Trump. In response to this assertion, Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, submitted a counter-argument highlighting several flaws in Missouri’s case. She contended that:
- Missouri lacked the standing to sue, as it had not experienced the type of injury required for legal standing.
- The state of New York was not an appropriate defendant in this matter, given that the case against Trump was initiated by an elected district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, who acted with independent discretion.
- There are other legal avenues available for addressing the questions raised by Missouri’s lawsuit.
