The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments this month about presidential immunity and whether former President Donald Trump can be tried on charges that he conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
The high court’s decision will determine how some of the presumptive GOP nominee’s legal cases advance in an election year where he is facing 91 felony charges across four trials. They include the willful retention of national defense information in violation of the Espionage Act.
“Donald Trump is trying to show that a U.S. president is immune from criminal prosecution while acting in an official capacity,” University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock told VOA.
“But I think, at the heart of this matter, is just how broadly Trump and his lawyers define ‘official capacity,’” Bullock explained.
“They are defining it very broadly at the moment. Trump says a president should be completely immune while president, but the three-judge circuit panel that ruled against him posed the question: ‘Well, what if the president hired a hitman to take out one of their rivals? Is that in an official capacity, and are they immune from prosecution then, as well?’ I think we’d all say, of course not!”
Landmark Paris trial of Syrian officials accused of torturing, killing a father and his son starts
Traditional dance helps reduce poverty in Shannan, Tibet
China thrives as center of global brand exports
People shop for decorations for upcoming Halloween in Ontario, Canada
Australia's deputy prime minister pledges support to Solomon Islands during visit to Honiara
Landlocked Xinjiang cashes in on aquatic products
Colorful lights and lanterns light up to celebrate upcoming Lunar New Year in Singapore
Painting exhibition featuring China's natural beauty kicks off in Egypt's Opera House
Tagovailoa misses Dolphins' OTA day to attend Saban's charity golf tournament
Parcel delivery active in rural business
Cristiano Ronaldo to lead Portugal into record sixth European Championship
Book of Xi's Discourses on Chinese Modernization Published