'Justice deferred is justice gutted': Stephen Colbert lambasts SCOTUS over delay in Donald Trump's trial
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: Stephen Colbert expressed his disapproval of the Supreme Court's decision to postpone Donald Trump's trial for election interference on February 28.
In a scathing commentary during 'The Late Show' monologue on February 29, Colbert delivered a harsh critique, declaring, "I am hereby declaring the Supreme Court unconstitutional."
Stephen Colbert mocks SCOTUS' delay on Trump's trials
This statement came after his explanation of the situation, wherein he made the bleak observation that it's "kind of weird that SCOTUS feels the need to consider whether or not laws exist."
"We all know what day it is. It’s Leap Day, a magical 24-hour period that emerges from the mist every four years like Brigadoon", Colbert began.
"For that one magical day, you can do anything you want because no laws apply, evidently, according to the Supreme Court."
"Because this morning when I excitedly ran down to open my leaf presents under the time tree, I found out that the Supreme Court has decided to hear Trump’s immunity claim, further delaying his January 6 trial in the landmark case," Colbert remarked
"Seriously, what is going on, justice deferred is justice gutted like a fish and thrown into the river for chum," he added.
Colbert proceeded to recap the situation for his audience, a task we'll undertake as well.
Last autumn, in the criminal trial concerning his efforts to overthrow the government on January 6, 2021, Trump's defense put forth the unconstitutional claim that the US presidents possess complete legal immunity from all criminal actions.
As Colbert reminded his viewers, this assertion holds true even in the extreme scenario of a president committing literal murder against political adversaries.
The trial encountered delays in addressing this particular argument. In December, special counsel Jack Smith made efforts to expedite the case to the Supreme Court (SCOTUS).
However, the court promptly denied the request without providing an explanation. Consequently, on February 6, a federal appeals court decisively rejected the argument, prompting Trump's legal team to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Legal experts slam immunity concept
After an extended period of silence, SCOTUS announced on February 28 that it would review the case on April 22nd.
Legal experts and critics of the court's conservative majority have emphasized that the concept of full presidential immunity lacks grounding in American law or history.
They contend that the actions of the Supreme Court appear to be geared towards prolonging Trump's criminal trials until after the 2024 election.
“That makes it a total of 19 weeks of delays” in the insurrection trial, Colbert said, adding, “These proceedings have been frozen for so long, they legally count as children in Alabama."
"This is not a tough call, folks. The appeals court ruled three zero against Trump’s claim that presidents have total immunity from prosecution," Colbert emphasized, before adding, "kind of weird that SCOTUS feels the need to consider whether or not laws exist."
However, Colbert managed to inject some humor into the situation, pointing out that the delay means "the trial could now be delayed until late September or October, plunging the proceedings into the heart of the election."
He remarked that while this would be "terrible news for democracy," it would be "fantastic news for television."
