Trump has no presidential immunity, appeals court rules

A federal appeals court in Washington D.C. has ruled, in a landmark decision, that former President Donald Trump cannot use his presidential immunity to shield himself from criminal prosecution for alleged acts against the 2020 election results, The Associated Press reports.

Trump's team argued for years that his role as president gave him immunity from such charges, citing the steps he had taken as part of his duties to maintain the integrity of the elections.

BREAKING: Trump is not immune from prosecution in his 2020 election interference case, US appeals court says https://t.co/oY6PePJHQ3

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 6, 2024

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia unanimously rejected this argument, making Mr. Trump, now a U.S. citizen, equally vulnerable to prosecution under U.S. law. The court's decision rejects the idea that Mr. Trump would be protected by executive immunity after leaving office. This is a major setback for the ex-president, who faces four criminal charges related to election meddling.

Mr. Trump has denied charges of conspiracy to defraud and obstruction.

Trump could take the case to the Supreme Court, where the conservative majority currently holds a 6-3 majority.

The ongoing developments could mark a turning point in the legal case surrounding Donald Trump's future post-presidential term and set a historic precedent on executive powers and legal obligations.