Why does the Supreme Court keep throwing Republicans under the bus?
On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey that aimed to lift a gag order and delay the sentencing of Donald Trump in his New York City hush money trial. Bailey contended that New York’s legal actions constitute an “illicit prosecution” that undermines Trump’s ability to campaign for the presidency.
In July, Bailey initiated the lawsuit, arguing that New York’s actions infringe upon Missourians’ First Amendment rights by restricting their access to information from a presidential candidate in the 2024 election. The suit further claimed that New York’s intervention in this matter disrupts the ability of Missouri voters to hear from and make an informed choice about their preferred candidate as the election approaches.
New York’s response to the lawsuit was that it lacked merit and that Missouri had not demonstrated sufficient harm to justify its legal standing. The state’s solicitor general argued that proceeding with the lawsuit could dangerously bypass Trump’s ongoing state court processes and undermine the jurisdictional limits of the Supreme Court in reviewing state court decisions.
The Supreme Court denied Missouri’s request without providing detailed reasoning. The court’s brief order stated, “Missouri’s motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied, and its motion for preliminary relief or a stay is dismissed as moot.” Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito expressed their willingness to permit the filing of the complaint but were not in favor of granting other forms of relief.
Earlier this year, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, facilitated a $130,000 payment to Daniels to prevent her from discussing an alleged affair. Trump has consistently denied the affair and announced plans to appeal the verdict. His sentencing is scheduled for September 18.