Former US President Donald Trump According to the Court of Appeal, he can be prosecuted for his actions while in office and does not enjoy immunity. With this decision, the court rejected Trump's request. The reasoning behind the appeals court's decision said the court carefully weighed Trump's asserted interests in immunity „against the important public interests that favor pursuing this trial.”

There are currently several criminal proceedings against the former president in connection with the storming of the Capitol building in 2021. The three judges in the District of Columbia rejected his claim that he could not be tried because the allegations were related to his official duties as president of the country. state. However, this question will likely only be finally clarified by the country's highest court. It can be assumed that the Republican will appeal and that the Supreme Court will intervene. There was initially no statement from Trump.

Trump has suffered a serious legal defeat. This is the second time in two months that judges have rejected his immunity arguments. Either way, it was determined that he could be tried for actions he took during his time in the White House and in the period leading up to the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The Supreme Court will likely decide

The leading Republican presidential candidate can now appeal to the full chamber of the Court of Appeals, and if denied again, he can appeal to the Supreme Court. This would delay the process for weeks or months — perhaps until after the election in early November.

The ruling determines whether it is possible to continue procedures for attempting to rig the election against Trump in the US capital. The judge in charge had postponed the start of the trial indefinitely until the issue of immunity was finally clarified. The 77-year-old wants to return to the White House for Republicans after the 2024 presidential election and regularly describes investigations against him as a “political witch hunt.”

There are currently several ongoing trials against Trump. He is the first former president in US history to face trial for possible crimes. His lawyers are demanding that the charges be dropped, pointing to Trump's immunity in his office as president at the time.

The ruling has far-reaching consequences

Trump supporters stormed the Parliament Building in Washington in 2021. Congress met there to officially confirm Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election. Trump previously incited his supporters during a speech. As a result, five people died.

Regardless of the appeals court's ruling, the question of whether the office of president protects against criminal prosecution is likely to end up before the Supreme Court because it is of national importance. On the one hand, this means that the charge against Trump of trying to rig the election is stand or fall. But it's also important to the campaign whether Trump is right or not. Everything so far points to a new version of the race between him and the current Democratic President Biden.

Last but not least, the decision to protect against criminal prosecution is of great importance to future presidents. If they truly enjoy immunity, they may commit crimes while in office without having to fear the consequences.