Justice Department Urges Judge To Reject Trump's Bid For Immunity: 'Subject To Federal Criminal Laws Like...330M Americans'

The U.S. Justice Department has challenged a request by former President Donald Trump seeking dismissal of the federal election interference case against him.

As reported by NPR, assistant Special Counsel James Pearce argued that Trump, like all citizens, “is subject to the federal criminal laws.” This response comes after Trump’s legal team moved to dismiss four felony charges against him on grounds of presidential “immunity.”

“He is subject to the federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans, including Members of Congress, federal judges, and everyday citizens,” wrote Pearce.

The legal team of the former President has indicated that they may seek the Supreme Court’s review of the immunity issue. This could potentially delay the trial scheduled for Mar. 4, 2024.

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However, prosecutors argue that Trump has misrepresented the allegations against him and exaggerated the constitutional support for his claims. They stressed that sitting presidents only enjoy temporary immunity that ends once they leave office.

The Justice Department warned that accepting Trump’s broad arguments would create a dangerous precedent, shielding presidents from accountability for crimes committed during their term. They illustrated this point with examples of potential abuses of power, such as bribery, evidence tampering, or selling nuclear secrets.

Trump stands accused of conspiring against the government he once led and of violating the civil rights of millions of American voters. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges, which were filed in four separate jurisdictions: Florida, Georgia, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Special Counsel lawyers also referenced Republican lawmakers and prominent conservative legal thinkers who have argued that former presidents are not immune from accountability.

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