Donald Trump urged a federal appeals court to throw out the federal election subversion criminal case in Washington, DC, again arguing in a filing late Saturday that he is protected under presidential immunity.

Trump wants the DC Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower-court ruling rejecting his claims of immunity in special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion case. The appeals panel is weighing Trump’s request, which the Supreme Court on Friday refused to take up on an expedited basis, as Smith requested.

The filing reiterates what the former president’s lawyers have repeatedly asserted – that Trump was working in his official capacity as president to “ensure election integrity” when he allegedly undermined the 2020 election results and therefore has immunity, and that his indictment is unconstitutional because presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted for “official acts” unless they are impeached and convicted by the Senate.

  • Neato@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    If this happens, Biden should just go: “Ok, I’m president for life now until someone overturns this.”

    Republicans will break their necks getting that decision they want now undone.

    • Bridger@sh.itjust.works
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      11 months ago

      He could send hit squads for everyone implicated in j6, end his reelection campaign and retire. If the SC rules for absolute immunity.

    • vzq@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      11 months ago

      Uh no?

      I mean, I think uncle Joe is a pretty decent guy as far as US presidents go, but I value the whole democracy thing too.

      • Neato@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        Agreed. I wouldn’t expect a Democrat to do it. But he could just float the idea in public and that should scare Republicans enough to push it through the SCOTUS that the president isn’t immune to prosecution

        • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
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          11 months ago

          I kind of want him to just announce he’ll have Trump assassinated the same day if the court rules he’s immune from prosecution. Not really but it sounds fun in my imagination.