A federal appeals court ruled that Trump does not enjoy immunity from charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
This ruling takes him one step closer to facing an unprecedented criminal trial.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit firmly rejected Trump’s assertion that he cannot be prosecuted because the allegations stem from his official duties as president.
“We cannot accept that the office of the Presidency places its former occupants above the law for all time thereafter,” the unanimous panel emphasized.
Executive immunity
The court further asserted that any executive immunity that might have protected Trump from criminal charges while in office “no longer shields him from prosecution.”
Trump has vowed to appeal the decision, continuing his effort to avoid a trial that could potentially charge him with undermining American democracy and the peaceful transfer of power. Simultaneously, he remains the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump announces that he will once again run for U.S. president in the 2024 U.S. presidential election during an event at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. November 15, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
Bedrock of republic
A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, Steven Cheung, expressed concern over the ruling, stating that it “threatens the bedrock of our Republic.”
Cheung confirmed that Trump would appeal but did not specify whether the case would be reviewed by the full D.C. Circuit Court or directly taken to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the prosecution, declined to comment on the matter.
The case remains on hold until at least Monday, allowing Trump time to make his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump’s legal team has argued that former presidents should be granted extensive legal protections, making it impossible to prosecute them for official actions unless they have been impeached by the House of Representatives and removed from office by the Senate.
Two impeachments
Notably, Trump faced two impeachments during his presidency, both resulting in acquittal by Senate Republicans.
The recent ruling questioned the broad scope of Trump’s claim, specifically inquiring whether even a president who ordered military operations to eliminate a political opponent could escape prosecution without congressional action.
The panel’s written ruling stated that granting immunity to Trump in this case would grant presidents “unlimited authority to commit crimes that would undermine the essential checks on executive power, such as recognizing and implementing election results.”
Ultimately, the judges found no “functional justification” for extending full protection to former presidents regarding actions tied to their official responsibilities.
Republican-majority US House takes step toward vote on Biden …
Prosecute Biden
Trump has frequently asserted his immunity claim on the campaign trail and social media, suggesting that a future administration led by him could potentially prosecute President Joe Biden if he were to return to the White House.
The indictment brought forth by Special Counsel Smith accuses Trump of using false claims of voter fraud to pressure state lawmakers, Justice Department officials, and then-Vice President Mike Pence into obstructing the certification of the election results.
This indictment is one of four criminal cases Trump currently faces, with two of them alleging interference in the 2020 election.
Ahron Young is an award winning journalist who has covered major news events around the world. Ahron is the Managing Editor and Founder of TICKER NEWS.
A former minister of the Andrews government has criticized Victoria Police for overlooking terror symbols in Melbourne and is urging state Labor to adopt stricter protest regulations akin to those in New South Wales.
Philip Dalidakis, who served from 2015 to 2018, linked the recent arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue to a failure in public safety measures.
He is advocating for the introduction of protest permits and enhanced police authority to disperse gatherings.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labeled the synagogue attack an act of terrorism, a stance not shared by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who refrained from such a designation to avoid hindering police investigations.
She characterised the attack as designed to instill fear within the Jewish community.
Community fear
Albanese signaled that the attack fits the definition of terrorism due to its intent to incite community fear.
He highlighted Labor’s commitment to Jewish community safety, referencing $25 million allocated to enhance security and an additional $32.5 million pledged.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton condemned the attack as a national disgrace and accused Labor of failing to address rising antisemitism.
He, along with former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, called for a formal terrorism designation and the formation of a police taskforce against antisemitism.
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted political asylum in Moscow, according to a source from the Kremlin reported by TASS.
Assad, who was last in Damascus on Saturday, fled the country early Sunday, as confirmed by both Syrian and Arab security officials.
Russia’s foreign ministry indicated that he had officially stepped down and left the country.
Though Assad planned to address the nation Saturday evening, the speech never took place.
His wife and children had previously departed for Russia in late November, with his brothers-in-law moving to the United Arab Emirates.
Potential risks
President Biden referred to the fall of the Assad regime as a “historic opportunity” for Syrians to shape their future.
He acknowledged both the potential and risks involved.
Biden credited his administration’s actions, such as supporting conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, for weakening Assad’s position by diverting the resources of his allies: Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah.
He reiterated the ongoing U.S. sanctions against Assad’s regime.
The U.S. plans to send senior officials to the region and provide humanitarian aid to support the Syrian people during this transition. Biden confirmed that the U.S. military presence in eastern Syria will continue, particularly to secure prisons housing Islamic State members.
Young men are increasingly taking risks in cryptocurrency and political betting, reporting substantial gains as markets rise.
Investments by young men are significantly outperforming traditional ones.
A diverse portfolio consisting of bitcoin, gold, GameStop, and DraftKings yielded a 62% return in 2023.
Many young male investors view their speculative trades as a pathway to traditional goals, supported by the entertainment aspects of mobile trading. However, owning cryptocurrency and meme stocks is influenced by gender attitudes. Data from the Pew Research Center shows a stark disparity between young male and female investors in crypto ownership.
Political expectations
The recent surge in bitcoin prices is partly due to favorable political expectations surrounding the newly elected administration. Political betting has also grown, with a majority of participants being male and under 30.
Many young men feel compelled to pursue risky investments due to economic pressures and perceived barriers. While they report higher earnings, nearly half claim to face discrimination, contributing to feelings of alienation.
The pandemic fueled increased retail participation in investing, especially among younger demographics. Influencers on online platforms significantly impact investment decisions, often promoting risky behavior.