The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has issued a significant ruling regarding former President Donald Trump's legal standing in an election interference case lodged against him.
In a decision handed down on Tuesday, a three-judge panel declared that Trump no longer enjoys executive immunity, stating that "any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution." The ruling emphasized that, in the context of this criminal case, Trump is now treated as a regular citizen with the same legal defenses as any other defendant.
Responding to the ruling, Trump's campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung expressed disagreement, asserting that Trump will appeal the decision to uphold the presidency's integrity and the Constitution. Cheung warned of potential consequences for future presidents if immunity were not upheld, arguing that without it, every outgoing president would face immediate indictment by the opposing party, hindering the proper functioning of the presidency.
This decision marks the second time in recent months that courts have indicated Trump could face prosecution for decisions made during his presidency. US District Judge Tanya Chutka, overseeing the case, previously rejected Trump's legal team's arguments in December, asserting that the office of the president does not grant lifelong immunity from legal accountability.
With the Supreme Court declining to intervene, the appeals court ruling stands as a pivotal development in the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding Trump's actions while in office.
