U.S. Court of Appeals laughs Donald Trump out of the building

It’s a sign of just how much trouble Donald Trump is in that when you talk about a court case against him, you have to specify which one. Even as Trump continues to lose his second E. Jean Carroll civil trial and awaits a losing verdict in his New York civil fraud trial, Trump is also trying to fend off his first criminal trial. It’s not going well.

We’re still waiting for the U.S. Court of Appeals to laugh off Trump’s claim that his crimes are covered under presidential immunity. In the meantime Trump also asked the Court of Appeals to strike down the limited gag order he’s facing in his criminal case. But today the Court of Appeals declined to hear the gag order case. It’s one thing for the Court of Appeals to take up your appeal and then rule against you. When the Court of Appeals refuses to even hear your appeal, it means you’ve been laughed out of the building.

It’s important to keep in mind that things like Trump’s gag order appeal don’t actually delay anything. At this point we’re just waiting for the Court of Appeals to rule against Trump on presidential immunity. Then, once the Supreme Court presumably declines to take up the case, Trump’s first criminal trial can start.