In a significant blow to former President Donald Trump's claims of immunity from prosecution, the D.C. Circuit Court dealt a decisive ruling today, stating that he can be criminally tried by special counsel Jack Smith for alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. The court referred to Trump as 'citizen Trump' for the purposes of this case, emphasizing that he is no longer immune to potential criminal charges.
The ruling rejects Trump's argument that a sitting president should have absolute immunity, stating that the prospect of federal criminal liability may actually serve as a deterrent against abuses of power and criminal behavior. In a masterful opinion combining constitutional text, judicial precedent, historic analysis, and logical reasoning, the court concluded that Trump's claims of immunity collapse our system of separated powers.
