Trump sweeping immunity claim rejected by US appeals court

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00 He'd claimed he was immune from criminal charges, for acts he believed fell within his presidential

00:04 duties.

00:05 But a federal court has ruled against Donald Trump, saying that the former US president

00:10 can be prosecuted on charges accusing him of plotting to overturn his 2020 election

00:15 defeat.

00:15 The court's conclusion was that any presidential power shielding Trump from criminal charges

00:20 no longer protects him once out of the Oval Office, something the 77-year-old called a

00:25 political weapon.

00:27 A president of the United States must have full immunity in order to properly function

00:32 and do what has to be done for the good of our country.

00:35 A nation destroying ruling like this cannot be allowed to stand.

00:39 If not overturned, as it should be, this decision would terribly injure not only the presidency

00:44 but the life, breath and success of our country.

00:47 The ruling is a setback for Trump, who has cited presidential immunity for years across

00:52 multiple legal battles.

00:54 The case is one of four criminal prosecutions he faces, even as he remains the likely front

00:59 runner for the Republican presidential nomination, which with only months to go before the election

01:04 could protect him again should he win.

01:07 Well essentially what they've ruled is that executive immunity only can protect a president

01:13 during his time in office, during his time of service.

01:16 Once he leaves the White House, he has no more rights than any other citizen.

01:22 There's a desire to get this conviction before the election, before the next inauguration

01:28 to prevent it being dismissed in effect by the orders of then-President Trump.

01:34 According to Trump's campaign spokesperson, he plans to appeal, either by asking the circuit

01:40 court to reconsider the ruling or going directly to the Supreme Court.

Category

Transcript

Recommended