The question of presidential immunity returns to the forefront as former US President Donald Trump fights to escape the legal proceedings against him. His request to dismiss the charges was contradicted by federal prosecutors, saying that no one, not even the president, is above the law. This legal standoff raises questions about the extent of presidential power and the responsibilities of former heads of state.
Donald Trump’s lawyers invoked presidential immunity to justify their request to dismiss the charges. They referred to a case involving former President Richard Nixon and the Supreme Court, where the president’s absolute immunity for acts related to his official responsibilities was recognized. However, the federal prosecutor’s office emphasized that this immunity was never extended to criminal prosecutions after the end of the presidential term.
The question of presidential immunity has been debated for a long time. On the one hand, some argue that a sitting president must be legally protected to enable him to effectively carry out his duties. On the other hand, others believe that no individual should be above the law and that all should be held accountable for their actions, including former presidents.
This legal standoff is the latest twist in the saga surrounding Donald Trump since his departure from the White House. He is accused of having masterminded an attempt to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden. He would thus be the first former American president to be criminally charged.
However, Donald Trump’s legal calendar is not limited to this case alone. He also faces legal proceedings in New York State, involving alleged accounting fraud linked to payments to buy the silence of an adult film actress. In addition, investigations in Georgia are underway concerning the election of 2020.
In short, the question of presidential immunity is at the heart of this new legal chapter for Donald Trump. While the federal prosecutor’s office rejects his request to dismiss the charges against him, the former president will have to face a judicial system which highlights the principle according to which no one is above the law. The final verdict remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: This legal battle could affect not only Trump’s political life, but also perceptions of presidential immunity in the United States.