Former President Donald Trump is preparing to go to the Supreme Court of the United States after an appeals court ruled that he can be tried in the case in which he is accused of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election. His defense claimed that, as a sitting president at the time, he is immune. However, the court’s unanimous decision reaffirmed a prior decision against Trump, marking a setback in the ongoing case initiated by the Department of Justice.
The three judges of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, a court renowned in the American judicial system, firmly rejected Trump’s defense. As a result, Trump and his legal team plan to take the case to the Supreme Court, where a potentially unprecedented decision awaits the highest court of the nation.
Shortly after the decision was announced, Trump posted a message on his new social network, Truth Social, reiterating his belief that a president should be granted immunity. However, the judges have argued that no citizen, including a former president, is above the law. They emphasized that allowing presidential immunity would collapse the system of separated powers and place the president beyond the reach of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
Meanwhile, Trump is on track to once again become the presidential candidate of the Republican Party despite the legal challenges he faces. Nikki Haley, his only remaining rival, lags behind in the polls in the South Carolina primary. Trump has secured victories in the first two elections, solidifying his leadership within the party.
The ruling is considered to mark a significant moment in American jurisprudence, addressing a question that had never before been brought before an appeals court. Trump is the first former president in the nation’s history to face legal action for alleged crimes committed during his administration. He faces multiple criminal charges across four court cases, including charges relating to election interference and attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
The ongoing trial is scheduled for March, with Special Prosecutor Jack Smith aiming to keep the start date intact. However, Trump’s legal team has consistently sought to delay the trial, raising the prospect that the case could be dropped in the event of a Trump victory in the November presidential elections. Regardless, the former president faces legal challenges in multiple states and civil cases related to his business dealings.
The outcome of this unprecedented legal battle could have far-reaching implications for the future of American politics and presidential accountability.