A wind of hope for Donald Trump?
The Supreme Court of the United States agreed on Wednesday to take up the question of criminal immunity invoked by the former tenant of the White House and to examine it at the end of April, a few months before the presidential election.
On February 6, a federal appeals court rejected the criminal immunity invoked by the former American president – the first to be criminally charged – considering that no president could claim “absolute immunity”.
Which effectively reopened the way for his trial in Washington for attempting to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Towards criminal protection?
The nation's highest court said in an unsigned statement that it will consider "whether and, if so, to what extent a former president enjoys presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve acts officials during his mandate.
The Supreme Court has ruled in the past that presidents enjoy immunity from civil liability for official acts.
Donald Trump's lawyers have argued for months that this protection should be extended to criminal prosecutions.
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Targeted by four separate criminal charges, the big favorite in the Republican primaries for the November presidential election is seeking through his multiple appeals to go to trial as late as possible, in any case after the vote.
The Court will hear oral arguments at the end of April, and is expected to issue its decision no later than the end of June.