Donald Trump’s lawyers say they will appeal to the US Supreme Court a Washington court ruling this week that said he cannot have presidential immunity to escape prosecution for crimes he may have played a part in during his time in office. But it’s not likely to succeed in the highest court in the land, says an attorney.
Trump’s Criminal Charges
The Republican Party frontrunner for this year’s election is seeking to escape criminal charges under two indictments that allege he plotted to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election. Trump had been seeking a second term but lost to Joe Biden. He has never, however, accepted defeat, instead insisting the vote was “rigged” and “stolen” from him.
Court Says No Immunity
A three-judge panel at a federal appeals court in Washington DC ruled on Tuesday that Trump does not have immunity from prosecution.
Ex-Presidents ‘Can Be Prosecuted’
The judges wrote in a unanimous 57-page decision that former presidents could be prosecuted for alleged crimes committed during their terms.
Trump ‘Not Above the Law’
The judges wrote: “We cannot accept that the office of the Presidency places its former occupants above the law for all time thereafter.”
‘Citizen Trump’
The judges said: “For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant.”
Trump ‘Answerable in Court’
They said: “Former President Trump lacked any lawful discretionary authority to defy federal criminal law and he is answerable in court for his conduct.”
‘Comprehensive Decision’
Conservative lawyer and Trump critic George Conway said the appeal court’s decision was comprehensive in the extent that the judges wrote about their reasoning at length, making it more difficult for the Supreme Court to disagree and overturn their decision.
‘Masterful’ Ruling
Speaking on CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins, Conway said: “It was masterful because it combines so many elements that combine constitutional text, judicial precedent, history and just sheer logic and the party’s own concessions, Trump’s own concessions, to make just an absolutely cohesive whole opinion that … just inexorably leads you to the conclusion that he is not immune.”
‘Nothing Left to Argue’
Conway suggested that Trump’s legal team had exhausted all their arguments and had nothing left to say. He said they ‘threw everything up in the air and every single argument was methodically and systematically dismantled by this court.”
‘Bad Arguments Addressed’
He added: “There is nothing left. Even the court addressed all the bad arguments that Trump probably shouldn’t have made to this court. And there’s just nothing. There’s just nothing left for the Supreme Court to clean up.”
Trump Appeal
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “President Trump respectfully disagrees with the DC Circuit’s decision and will appeal it in order to safeguard the Presidency and the Constitution.”
Trump’s Ballot Ban Appeal
The Supreme Court has not yet said if it will hear an appeal of the Washington verdict. It is currently hearing oral arguments in another Trump case, after he was struck off the primary ballot in Colorado for insurrection under a clause in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Trump’s lawyers say the clause does not apply to presidents, only senators and representatives, and that he should therefore remain on the ballot.
Maine Ballot Ban
Trump has also been struck off the primary ballot in Maine, also for insurrection and the fallout of the 2020 election that saw a Trump-supporting mob storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, as Biden was being confirmed the winner. Trump has also appealed that verdict, but courts there said they are awaiting the Supreme Court’s verdict before proceeding with their own.
‘Not Worth Supreme Court’s Time’
Conway predicted the Supreme Court would decline to hear Trump’s immunity appeal, saying “I don’t think it’s worth the Court’s time to deal with it at this point. If Trump is convicted, which I think he will be, they can actually review this after his conviction. And meanwhile, the Supreme Court already has its hands full.”
Other Legal Issues
Trump is also fighting off two other indictments against him – the four carry a total of 91 criminal charges that could see him jailed for decades. They allege that he mishandled secret government files and doctored financial accounts to cover up payments to an adult film actress so she wouldn’t disclose an alleged affair with Trump. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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