Washington [US], February 7: The Court of Appeals in Washington DC ruled that former US President Donald Trump is not immune from criminal liability for actions committed while in office.
On February 7, CNN reported that the federal appeals court had just ruled that Donald Trump was not immune from prosecution as a former president, so he could be tried on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the election results. 2020.
The panel of three judges said that Mr. Trump's assertion that he is immune from criminal liability for actions committed while in office "is not supported by precedent, history or the text and structure of the constitution." ".
"Former President Trump's stance would collapse our system of separation of powers by placing the presidency beyond the reach of all three branches. We cannot accept that the office of the president places those who once held his position above the law throughout the subsequent period," according to the ruling.
This ruling is a major legal obstacle for Mr. Trump, the leading candidate for the position of Republican Party representative running for US President this year and the first former president to be criminally prosecuted.
A spokesman said Mr. Trump planned to file an appeal.
Writing on his social network Truth Social, Mr. Trump criticized the ruling and said it meant "a president will be afraid to act for fear of being punished by the opposition party after leaving office".
"An American president must have full immunity to function normally and do what must be done for the good of our country. A nationally destructive ruling like this cannot be allowed to stand," he wrote.
The appeals court paused the ruling until February 12 to give Mr. Trump a chance to appeal to the US Supreme Court , which could decide whether to accept the case or allow the lower court's ruling to take effect. .
Mr. Trump is expected to be put on trial in Washington DC on March 4 on charges of plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election that Democratic candidate Joe Biden won.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
