As of: February 8, 2024, 7:06 p.m
By: Lukas Rogalla, Nail Akkoyun
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Donald Trump can be prosecuted criminally for actions he took while in office, a court has ruled.
But the story may not be over yet.
Violent criticism of the ex-president: “Unpresidential”
Decision before the
Supreme Court
: The last word has probably not yet been spoken
Former President
Donald Trump
can be prosecuted for his actions in office, an appeals court has ruled.
With the decision, the court rejected Trump's request.
Developments and reactions in our
news ticker
.
Update from February 6th, 7:17 p.m.:
Donald Trump has now also spoken out on his social network Truth Social.
His post comes across as surprisingly sober – at first.
“A President of the United States must have full immunity in order to function properly and do what must be done for the good of our country.
A nation-destroying verdict like this cannot be allowed to stand.
If not repealed, as it should be, this decision would do terrible harm not only to the presidency, but to the life, breath and success of our country,” the former president wrote.
Shortly afterwards, however, the Republican completed his statement in classic Trump style.
The verdict would be used as a “political weapon” and “to influence elections”.
“This is so bad and so dangerous for our country.
SAVE PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY!”.
Former US President Donald Trump during the civil fraud trial of the Trump Organization on December 7, 2023. © Mike Segar/AFP
Violent criticism of the ex-president: “Unpresidential”
Update from February 6th, 6:10 p.m.:
The responsible judges strongly condemned Donald Trump's behavior in a statement.
The 77-year-old acted “unpresidentially” and “lacked any lawful discretionary authority to override federal criminal law,” the letter says.
Now the former president must “account for his behavior in court.”
It goes on to say that Trump used his position of power to “unlawfully extend his term as president and oust his duly elected successor.”
Update from February 6th, 5:26 p.m.:
Shortly after the verdict was announced, the Trump campaign also reacted to the appeals court's decision.
“If a president is not granted immunity, any future president who leaves office will be immediately impeached by the opposing party.
“Without complete immunity, a President of the United States would not be able to function properly,” Donald Trump’s campaign spokesman Steven Cheung was quoted as saying by
CNN
.
Cheung also announced that the ex-president would appeal the decision.
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Request for immunity rejected: Trump not protected from prosecution
First report:
Washington, DC – Former US President Donald Trump can be prosecuted for his actions in office, according to an appeals court.
With the decision on Tuesday, the court rejected Trump's request.
However, the question will probably only be finally clarified by the country's highest court.
The reasoning behind the appeals court's decision said the court had carefully weighed Trump's asserted immunity interests "against the important public interests in continuing this prosecution."
Trump has suffered a serious legal defeat.
But this was to be expected - at a hearing, the appeals court had already appeared skeptical and indicated that it would not follow the arguments of Trump's lawyers.
It can be assumed that the Republican will appeal and the Supreme Court will get involved.
It depends on his verdict whether the trial for attempted election fraud against Trump can be continued in the US capital.
The judge responsible had postponed the start of the trial indefinitely until the immunity question was finally clarified on Friday.
The 77-year-old wants to move back into the White House for the Republicans after the 2024 presidential election and regularly describes the investigations against him as a “political witch hunt.”
Trials against Trump: Immunity question is likely to end up before the Supreme Court
Trump is indicted in the US capital Washington in connection with attempted election fraud.
His lawyers want the charges to be dropped, citing Trump's immunity in his office at the time as president.
Trump supporters stormed the parliament building in Washington on January 6, 2021.
Congress met there to formally confirm Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election.
Trump had previously incited his supporters during a speech.
As a result of the riots, five people died.
Regardless of the appeals court's ruling, the question of whether the office of president protects against criminal prosecution is likely to end up before the Supreme Court.
After all, it is of national importance.
On the one hand, this means that the charge against Trump for attempted election fraud stands or falls.
It is also crucial for the election campaign whether Trump is right or not.
So far everything points to a new edition of the race between him and the Democratic incumbent Biden.
Last but not least, the decision on protection from criminal prosecution has immense importance for future presidents.
If they really enjoy immunity, they could commit crimes in office without having to fear consequences.
Trump's immunity: Prosecutors warn of fatal consequences
On the question of immunity, however, Trump's lawyers argued that the Republican could not be legally prosecuted for actions that were part of his duties as president.
Trump's lawyers also said in court that it is only possible to prosecute a president if he has previously been convicted in an impeachment trial.
That is not the case with Trump.
They therefore requested that the lawsuit be dismissed and the proceedings discontinued.
The public prosecutor's office rejected this - and justified this, among other things, by saying that overturning an election result is not part of the official duties of a president.
She pointed out that unlimited criminal immunity for a president would open the door to criminal acts of all kinds. She was already proven right in the first instance.
The appeal court has now confirmed this decision.
It said it was concluded that public policy concerns, “particularly in light of our history and the structure of our government,” warranted denial of the immunity request.
Trump's view that he should be categorically protected from prosecution for all official actions while in office is not supported by history or the text or structure of the Constitution.
(lrg/nak/dpa)