Former President Donald Trump has expressed his disagreement with the ruling of a three-judge panel from the D.C. Circuit on Tuesday, which determined that presidential immunity ceases upon leaving office. In response, Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, released a statement affirming their intention to appeal the decision in order to protect the presidency and uphold the Constitution.
According to Cheung’s statement, denying immunity to a former president could set a precedent where every future president leaving office could face immediate indictment by the opposing party. The statement emphasized the importance of complete immunity for a president to effectively fulfill their duties and responsibilities.
Trump has consistently argued that his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results were part of his presidential duties and aimed at investigating election integrity, rather than attempting to overturn the election outcome, as alleged in the indictment brought forth by special counsel Jack Smith in Washington, D.C.
Cheung’s statement further contended that prosecuting a president for official acts violates constitutional principles, including Presidential Immunity and the Separation of Powers, thereby posing a threat to the foundation of the republic. Trump intends to appeal the ruling to safeguard both the presidency and the Constitution.
The federal appeals panel’s decision on Tuesday means that Trump could potentially face trial for his involvement in challenging the 2020 election based on allegations of election fraud.
The ruling also set a deadline of February 12 for Trump’s legal team to appeal or request a stay before the Supreme Court. Originally scheduled to commence on March 4, the trial date was suspended pending the appeal process.