Driving the news: "This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office," Smith wrote in the Monday filing.

Smith added that it "is of imperative public importance" for the Court to rule on Trump's claims of immunity "and that respondent's trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected."
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to expedite consideration of Smith's request to consider whether Trump is immune, and gave Trump's legal team until Dec. 20 to file a response.