A three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals on Tuesday dismissed the twice-impeached and four-times indicted former President Donald Trump’s assertion of presidential immunity concerning his federal election interference case.
In a comprehensive 57-page decision, the judges declared, “For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant.”
The decision unequivocally rejected all potential bases for immunity, both as a general defense for former presidents and as it pertains to this specific case.
The appellate court’s pending decision, awaited for nearly a month, had prompted U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to delay the commencement of Trump’s trial, originally set for March 4, until the matter was settled.
Trump, who pleaded not guilty in August to charges related to an alleged “criminal scheme” aimed at overturning the 2020 election results, sought the dismissal of the case based on his claim of “absolute immunity” for actions taken while in office.
The former president, present at the Jan. 9 hearing, continues to vehemently deny any wrongdoing. He has consistently framed the election interference charges as “a persecution of a political opponent.”
Good! Hold Trump accountable for his crimes and the attack he caused on DC. He’s not even denying he broke the law, he’s just trying to argue he’s allowed to break the law.