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Amid an ongoing legal battle between former President Donald Trump’s legal team and the U.S. Department of Justice, Trump’s attorneys have recently petitioned the appeals court in Washington DC to dismiss charges accusing him of efforts to subvert the 2020 election.
In a filing submitted late Saturday, Trump’s legal representatives argued that he is immune from liability for actions undertaken during his presidency, reinforcing his belief in presidential immunity from prosecution.
This legal move comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reject a request for an expedited review by special counsel Jack Smith regarding presidential immunity.
The latest maneuver represents a significant development in the ongoing legal skirmish between Trump and the special counsel. If the case involving election interference experiences delays and Trump emerges victorious in the upcoming election, as indicated by current polls, he could potentially wield the authority to dismiss federal charges against him.
In a comprehensive 55-page brief presented to the appeals court, Trump’s attorney, D. John Sauer, asserted the constitutional principle that one branch of government cannot adjudicate matters involving another branch under the U.S. Constitution.
“Under our system of separated powers, the judicial branch cannot sit in judgment over a president’s official acts,” Sauer emphasized. “That doctrine is not controversial.” he added.
Sauer emphasized Trump’s defense, reiterating the claim that the former president’s actions were carried out within the scope of his official duties to safeguard election integrity. This, according to Trump’s legal team, places him under the umbrella of immunity, as presidents traditionally cannot be subject to criminal prosecution for actions taken in the course of their official duties.
In underscoring this point, Sauer pointed to the historical precedent of the absence of criminal charges against a sitting president. By highlighting that no such actions have been taken over the course of centuries, Trump’s attorney argued that this historical silence implies the nonexistence of the power to bring criminal charges against a president for official actions.
“The unbroken tradition of not exercising the supposed formidable power of criminally prosecuting a president for official acts – despite ample motive and opportunity to do so, over centuries – implies that the power does not exist,” he wrote.
The intricate dynamics between legislative, executive, and judicial powers are currently exerting a profound influence on the landscape of the 2024 election. Adding a new layer to the ongoing legal saga, a recent decision by the Supreme Court of Colorado, which rendered former President Trump ineligible for the state’s ballot due to his purported actions contesting the 2020 popular vote, has further complicated matters.
However, the implementation of this ruling has been deferred, awaiting potential scrutiny by the U.S. Supreme Court in the upcoming month. This development underscores the intricate interplay between state and federal jurisdictions in shaping the electoral framework.
Notably, before embarking on a holiday break at Camp David, President Joe Biden expressed skepticism regarding the concept of absolute presidential immunity from prosecution, thus presenting a counterpoint to Trump’s assertions on this matter. The President’s remarks contribute to the ongoing national conversation about the limits of executive privilege and the legal implications surrounding actions taken by former presidents.
