Former President Donald Trump’s efforts to sideline one of his criminal cases were dealt a blow Tuesday, as a three-judge panel rejected his claims of immunity from prosecution over his efforts to remain in power after the 2020 presidential election.
Trump’s lawyers said he could not face four counts of election conspiracy because he enjoys immunity, a move that led to the trial being temporarily suspended as the matter is resolved by higher courts.
“We balanced former President Trump’s asserted interests in executive immunity with the vital public interests that favor allowing this prosecution to proceed. We conclude that ‘(c)public policy interests, especially as highlighted by our history and the structure of our government’ compel
Deny his claim of immunity in this case,” the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals judges wrote in their unanimous decision.
Read Trump’s immunity decision.
Trump’s lawyers can now ask a larger D.C. Circuit panel to review the case, or ask the Supreme Court for its opinion.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the election conspiracy case, moved the March 4 trial date from the calendar.
More is coming.