The billionaire seeks with this hearing to postpone the various criminal trials against him until as late as possible and in any case after the elections
Five months after pleading not guilty to attempting to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 election, the Donald Trump arrived this morning (local time) at the federal appeals court in Washington, which is expected to consider his request for criminal immunity as a former president.
The big favorite in the primary elections for the nomination of the Republican Party, in view of the presidential elections in November, arrived shortly after 09.00 local time (16.00 Greek time) at the court, in the heart of the American capital, and he was accompanied by a convoy of black stately carsbroadcast American media.
The billionaire seeks with this hearing to postpone the various criminal trials against him until as late as possible and in any case after the polls.
This hearing comes as the election campaign is in full swing, less than a week before the Republican primary begins next Monday in Iowa.
Judge Tanya Chatkan, who will preside over hearings in the federal trial for his alleged illegal attempts to overturn the 2020 election, on Dec. 1 rejected his request for immunity, ruling that no law protects a former president from criminal charges.
Donald Trump’s lawyers confirm that he will request to be granted “full immunity” for his actions while in the White House. They will cite a Supreme Court case law from the 1980s involving civil suits against former President Richard Nixon.
They will also argue that he cannot be tried for manipulations aimed at overturning the results because of his acquittal in the parliamentary impeachment proceedings against him after the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. when hundreds of his supporters tried to block the ratification of the victory of his Democratic opponent Joe Biden.
In her ruling, Justice Chatkan had concluded that Nixon precedent is irrelevant to the criminal prosecution of a former president and that an impeachment proceeding does not constitute a criminal proceeding.
“The defendant’s four years as head of state do not give him the divine right of kings to avoid the criminal liability to which our fellow citizens are subject,” according to her.
The former president will not be allowed to speak as his lawyers try to convince three federal judges that the case should be dismissed before it goes to trial in March.
But as the Republican nomination begins next week, Trump is using the hearings as an opportunity to argue that he has been the victim of political persecution.
Trump says he will prosecute Joe Biden if re-elected
Earlier, Donald Trump warned that he will prosecute Joe Biden if he returns to the White House.
The US Justice Department has long argued that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted for their actions while in office, and Trump says that should apply to former presidents as well.
If the case moves forward, the billionaire says he will pursue the prosecution of Democrat Joe Biden if he wins the November presidential election.
“If I don’t get immunity, then corrupt Joe Biden doesn’t get immunity,” Trump said in a video he posted on social media.
Source :Skai
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