Trump Washington, dec 1 (Reuters) -Donald Trump does not h**e immunity from criminal charges for actions he took as president, a us. judge ruled on friday, rejecting his bid to toss out the case brought by special counsel jack smith accusing him of unlawfully trying to overturn his 2020 election loss.
On Friday, a U.S. judge ruledDonald TrumpActs during his tenure as ** do not enjoy immunity from criminal charges, denying him a request to overturn Special Counsel Jack Smith's case alleging that he illegally attempted to overturn the 2020 ** defeat.
u.s. district judge tanya chutkan found no legal basis for concluding that presidents cannot face criminal charges once they are no longer in office. trump, the frontrunner for the republican nomination to challenge democratic president joe biden in the 2024 u.s. election, served from 2017 to 2021.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan held that there was no legal basis for the conclusion that the U.S. cannot face criminal charges once it is no longer in office. Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, challenging Democratic Joe Biden in the 2024 United States, where his term runs from 2017 to 2021.
whatever immunities a sitting president may enjoy, the united states has only one chief executive at a time, and that position does not confer a lifelong 'get-out-of-jail-free' pass," chutkan wrote in her ruling.
"Regardless of the immunity enjoyed by the incumbent**, the United States has only one chief executive at a time, and this position does not grant a lifetime 'freedom from prison' pass," Chutkan wrote in the ruling.
because trump is the first current or former u.s. president to face criminal charges, chutkan's ruling is the first by a u.s. court affirming that presidents can be charged with crimes like any other citizen.
Since Trump is the first current or former U.S. to face criminal charges, Chutkan's ruling is the first time that a U.S. court has confirmed that a U.S. court can be charged with a crime like any other citizen.
the judge also rejected trump's argument that the charges violate his free speech rights under the u.s. constitution's first amendment. trump's lawyers had argued that the case by smith "attempts to criminalize core political speech and political advocacy."
The judge also rejected Trump's argument that the allegations violated his right to free speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Trump's lawyers argue that Smith's case "seeks to criminalize core political speech and propaganda."
todd blanche, a lawyer for trump, declined to comment on the ruling.
One of Trump's lawyers, Todd Blanche, declined to comment on the ruling.
chutkan's ruling brings trump a step closer to facing a jury on charges that he plotted to interfere in the counting of electoral votes and obstruct congressional certification of biden's victory. trump has pleaded not guilty and accused prosecutors of attempting to damage his campaign.
Chutkan's verdict brings Trump one step closer to facing charges from a jury that accused him of conspiring to interfere with the electoral vote count and obstruct the U.S. Congress's certification of Biden's victory. Trump pleaded not guilty and accused prosecutors of trying to sabotage his campaign
the trial is scheduled to begin in march. trump can immediately appeal the ruling, which potentially could delay the trial while an appeals court and potentially the supreme court weigh the issue.
The trial is scheduled to begin in March. Trump can immediately appeal the ruling, which could delay the trial, while the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court may weigh the issue.
trump has additional pending legal motions to dismiss the case based on other claims including that his conduct as alleged by prosecutors does not fit the charges they brought. in addition to the case being pursued by smith, trump also faces state criminal charges in georgia related to his actions seeking to undo his 2020 defeat and two other indictments. he has pleaded not guilty in those cases as well.
Trump has other pending legal motions to dismiss the case on other charges, including prosecutors' allegations that his actions are inconsistent with the charges they have made. In addition to the case Smith is pursuing, Trump is facing state criminal charges in Georgia in connection with his failed attempts to drop 2020 and two other indictments. He also pleaded not guilty in these cases
the u.s. justice department long has had an internal policy not to indict a sitting president, but prosecutors said no such restrictions exist once a president le**es the white house.
The U.S. Department of Justice has long had an internal policy of not prosecuting incumbents**, but prosecutors saidOnce ** leaves the White House, no such restrictions exist
trump's lawyers had made a sweeping claim that he is "absolutely immune" from charges arising from official actions he took as president, arguing that political opponents could use the threat of criminal prosecution to interfere with a president's responsibilities.Trump's lawyers have made a sweeping claim that he is "absolutely inseparable" from charges arising from official actions he took as a **, arguing that political opponents can use the threat of criminal prosecution to interfere with **'s accountability.