donald trump does not have absolute immunity That the former president was arrogant to avoid prosecution for his attempts to overturn the legal results of the 2020 presidential election. Three judges of a federal appeals court in Washington held the door open in a unanimous decision this Tuesday. former president, favorite for Republican nomination For the November election, he will be required to undergo a criminal trial for the case, which is one of two cases special prosecutor Jack Smith has filed against him and one of four criminal cases he faces.
Although there are still stages in the legal path of this case and Trump Can appeal to the Supreme CourtThe 57-page decision is quite significant. And for now, it solves a fundamental problem: that those occupying the Oval Office They will be held accountable before the criminal justice system for their actions during their duties.. The Republican has never before impeached a former president in the United States.
“Citizen Trump”
“For the purposes of this criminal case (the case involving attempts by special prosecutor Jack Smith to change the 2020 election outcome) Former President Trump became Citizen Trumpwith all the protection of any other criminal defendant (…) But any immunity from execution could have protected him during his tenure as president doesn’t protect you anymore against this accusation,” they wrote.
At the January hearing, three judges (two appointed by Democrat Biden and one by Republican George Bush Sr.) showed skepticism about the arguments for full immunity by asking questions to the former president’s lawyers. At that hearing, one of Trump’s lawyers insisted that if he had ordered the killing of a political rival on a special forces mission, for example, he could only be charged if he was first impeached and convicted in an impeachment trial.
The trial, presided over by Judge Tanya Chutkan, was scheduled to begin on March 4, the day before Super Tuesday, but the judge delayed that start last week.