Donald Trump does not have presidential immunity and can be prosecuted in an election interference case, a US appeals court has ruled.
The court in Washington ruled that there was no basis for Mr Trump to assert that former presidents have blanket immunity from prosecution for any acts committed as president.
The ruling means he can be prosecuted for actions he took while in the White House from January 2017 and in the run-up to 6 January 2021, when a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol.
It is the second time in as many months that judges have rejected his claims to be exempt from prosecution.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump described the court’s ruling as “nation-destroying” and said it “cannot be allowed to stand”.
“If not overturned, as it should be, this decision would terribly injure not only the Presidency, but the Life, Breath, and Success of our Country,” he added.
“A President will be afraid to act for fear of the opposite Party’s Vicious Retribution after leaving Office. I know from personal experience because I am going through it right now. It will become a Political Weapon used for Election Interference. Even our Elections will be corrupted and under siege.
“So bad, and so dangerous for our Nation. SAVE PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY!”
The Republican, who is the overwhelming favourite to be nominated to run again in November, is expected to appeal and the case may ultimately be decided in the US Supreme Court.
The judges wrote in their decision: “We conclude that the interest in criminal accountability, held by both the public and the executive branch, outweighs the potential risks of chilling presidential action and permitting vexatious litigation.”
They did not set a date for a trial, which was originally set for next month, before being postponed last week.
The date is politically significant, as Mr Trump would prefer to delay it until after the US general election in November.
If his nomination is confirmed and he defeats Democrat president Joe Biden, he could presumably try to use his position as head of the executive branch to order a new attorney general to dismiss the federal cases or he could potentially seek a pardon for himself.
Last month, the Supreme Court turned down a chance to get involved, by rejecting a request from special counsel Jack Smith to take up the matter quickly and issue a speedy ruling.
The court has previously decided presidents are immune from civil liability for official acts, and Mr Trump’s lawyers have for months argued that that protection should be extended to criminal prosecution as well.
