The former US President Donald Trump According to an appeals court, he can be prosecuted for his actions in office and does not enjoy immunity. With the decision, the court rejected Trump’s request. The reasoning behind the appeals court’s decision said the court had carefully weighed Trump’s claimed immunity interests “against the important public interests that favor pursuing this prosecution.”
There are currently several criminal proceedings against the former president in connection with the storming of the Capitol in 2021. The three judges in the District of Columbia rejected his claim that he could not be prosecuted because the allegations were related to his official duties as head of state. However, the question will probably only be finally clarified by the country’s highest court. It can be assumed that the Republican will appeal and the Supreme Court will get involved. There was initially no statement from Trump.
Trump has suffered a serious legal defeat. It is the second time in two months that judges have rejected his immunity arguments. In both cases, it was determined that he could be prosecuted for actions he took during his tenure in the White House and in the lead-up to the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Supreme Court will probably decide
The leading Republican presidential candidate can now appeal to the full chamber of the appeals court and, if rejected again, appeal to the Supreme Court. This would delay the process for weeks or months – possibly until after the election in early November.
The verdict determines whether proceedings for attempted election fraud against Trump can be continued in the US capital. The judge responsible had postponed the start of the trial indefinitely until the question of immunity was finally clarified. The 77-year-old wants to move back into the White House for the Republicans after the 2024 presidential election and regularly describes the investigations against him as a “political witch hunt.”
There are currently several trials underway against Trump. He is the first ex-president in US history to face trial for possible crimes. His lawyers are calling for the charges to be dropped, citing Trump’s immunity in his office as president at the time.
The verdict has far-reaching consequences
Trump supporters stormed the parliament building in Washington in 2021. Congress met there to formally confirm Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election. Trump had previously incited his supporters during a speech. As a result, five people died.
Regardless of the appeals court’s ruling, the question of whether the office of president protects against criminal prosecution is likely to end up before the Supreme Court because it is of national importance. On the one hand, this means that the charge against Trump for attempted election fraud stands or falls. But it is also crucial for the election campaign whether Trump is right or not. So far everything points to a new edition of the race between him and the Democratic incumbent Biden.
Last but not least, the decision on protection from criminal prosecution has immense importance for future presidents. If they really enjoy immunity, they could commit crimes in office without having to fear consequences.
The former US President Donald Trump According to an appeals court, he can be prosecuted for his actions in office and does not enjoy immunity. With the decision, the court rejected Trump’s request. The reasoning behind the appeals court’s decision said the court had carefully weighed Trump’s claimed immunity interests “against the important public interests that favor pursuing this prosecution.”
There are currently several criminal proceedings against the former president in connection with the storming of the Capitol in 2021. The three judges in the District of Columbia rejected his claim that he could not be prosecuted because the allegations were related to his official duties as head of state. However, the question will probably only be finally clarified by the country’s highest court. It can be assumed that the Republican will appeal and the Supreme Court will get involved. There was initially no statement from Trump.