Donald Trump asked the United States Supreme Court on Monday, February 12, 2024, to suspend an appeals decision denying the former Republican president any criminal immunity and take up his appeal to overturn the decision.
“Complete Immunity”
A US federal appeals court on February 6 rejected Donald Trump’s criminal immunity, reopening the way for his trial in Washington for trying to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 election. Effective from Monday, unless an appeal is made to the Supreme Court.
In defense of Donald Trump, it was claimed that a “Complete Immunity” For his actions while in the White House. “We cannot accept that the office of the President keeps its former holders above the law forever.” The three appeals judges wrote in their unanimous decision, which affirmed a decision first announced by Judge Chutkan in December.
“For purposes of this criminal case, former President Trump has become Citizen Trump, with the same protections as any other defendant. But none of the executive immunity that would have protected him when he was president will no longer protect him from this action.” These judges clarified.
A case of official documents classified as top secret
The former US president also went to a federal court in Florida this Monday to attend a closed-door hearing in the case of his management’s handling of official documents classified as top secret. Judge Allyn Cannon called on lawyers for the prosecution and the Republican, the right’s heavy favorite for the presidential election in November, to discuss access to confidential evidence.
In this case, Donald Trump is accused of endangering the security of the United States by keeping confidential documents at his Florida residence instead of handing them over to the National Archives as usual after leaving the White House in January 2021. required by law. He pleaded not guilty last year.
To prepare their case, Mr. Trump’s lawyers want to get classified evidence into the hands of the prosecution, which the latter object to, arguing that they are highly sensitive documents. “Defense attorneys should be prepared to discuss in detail their defense theories in the case and to discuss in detail how any classified information may be relevant or helpful to (them)”wrote the magistrate in the court document in which she convened the hearing.
The trial is scheduled to begin on May 20, when the presidential campaign will be in full swing. Donald Trump will be accompanied by Carlos de Oliveira, the administrator of Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, and Waltin Nauta, a former presidential aide. In recent weeks, Mr. Trump, indicted in several cases, has made alternate campaign meetings and court appearances.
