Washington: Former US President Donald Trump has suffered a major setback in the federal election riot case. The federal court hearing the case filed against Donald Trump in connection with the riots that took place after the announcement of the results of the presidential election in the year 2020 rejected the defense’s request to quash the indictment on the ground that the former US President is being prosecuted as a retaliatory action and for political purposes. The court has rejected Trump’s plea. This is a big setback for Trump before the US Presidential Election 2024.
The US Supreme Court had given a historic verdict last month providing extensive protection to former presidents and limited the case of special counsel Jack Smith against Trump. After this decision of the Supreme Court, this decision of US District Judge Tanya Chutkan is the first concrete order in the riots case. While requesting that the indictment be dismissed, defense lawyers argued that Trump was treated unfairly and prosecuted, while others who challenged the election results escaped criminal charges.
Trump was accused of conspiracy
Lawyers for Trump, the Republican Party candidate in this year’s presidential election, said that President Joe Biden and the Ministry of Justice launched this indictment to prevent him from winning re-election. However, Chutkan rejected both arguments and said that Trump was not only impeached for challenging the election results, but he has been accused of “intentionally making false statements in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy and obstructing the election certification proceedings.” In this indictment, launched in August last year, Trump has been accused of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election through various schemes.
Trump had to face defeat
In this election, Trump had to face defeat at the hands of Democratic Party leader Biden. The Supreme Court, by a vote of six to three, held that presidents enjoy absolute immunity for basic constitutional duties and potential immunity from prosecution for all other official actions. The Supreme Court then remanded the case to Chutkan to determine what charges could constitute impeachment and which should be dismissed.
