Donald Trump asked the United States Supreme Court on Monday, February 12, to suspend an appeal decision denying the former Republican president any criminal immunity.
A US federal appeals court on February 6 dismissed the criminal immunity invoked by Donald Trump, reopening the way for his trial in Washington for attempting to illegally reverse the results of the 2020 election. All the procedural documents in this criminal case had been suspended due to the appeal, leading Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will preside over the proceedings, to announce the postponement of the trial, initially scheduled for March 4. The appeal decision was due to take effect on Monday, unless appealed to the Supreme Court.
“Absolute immunity”
In this appeal, Donald Trump's lawyers demand the annulment of the appeal decision. They also ask the Supreme Court, pending whether or not it agrees to take up this appeal, to suspend it. Donald Trump's defense claimed "absolute immunity" for his actions committed while he was in the White House.
“We cannot accept that the presidential office places its former holders above the law forever,” wrote the three appeal judges in their unanimous decision, confirming that pronounced in December at first instance by Judge Chutkan . "For the purposes of this criminal case, former President Trump has become Citizen Trump, with the same protections as any other defendant. But any executive immunity that might have protected him when he was president in office, no longer protects him against these prosecutions,” these judges clarified.
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.
With AFP
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