As former President Trump argues for the courts to grant him protection, President Biden stated that he “can’t think of one” reason why presidents should be immune from prosecution, according to Bloomberg.
Biden made this comment in response to a reporter’s question on Saturday before departing the White House for Camp David, where he plans to spend Christmas.
In an attempt to secure immunity, Trump’s legal team requested the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss the federal election interference case against him.
Special counsel Jack Smith has brought this case, arguing that Trump’s actions should be shielded by presidential immunity.
Trump had previously presented this argument to Judge Tanya Chutkan, who oversees the case. However, she rejected it, stating that the presidential position does not grant a lifelong “get-out-of-jail-free” pass.
Despite Smith urging the Supreme Court to intervene and rule on Trump’s immunity claim, the court declined to do so in an unsigned, one-sentence order. The trial is currently scheduled to begin in March.
The appeals court is set to hold a hearing early next month to consider the arguments presented.
In the federal election case, Trump faces several felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. Trump has pleaded not guilty, dismissing the charges as politically motivated.
In their filing to the appeals court, Trump’s lawyers argued that the actions mentioned in the indictment were official presidential actions.
They asserted that for Trump to face criminal prosecution for any official act during his presidency, he would need to be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate.
