New York: Former President Donald Trump’s claim of presidential immunity has been denied by Justice Juan Merchan in his criminal hush-money trial. The judge ruled that Trump had multiple opportunities to raise the claim of presidential immunity before he did, effectively shutting down his argument. The judge stated that since he was denying the motion on this basis, he did not need to address whether presidential immunity would prevent the introduction of evidence of official presidential acts in a criminal proceeding.
Trump’s trial is still scheduled to begin on April 15th. Meanwhile, Special counsel Jack Smith is urging Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing a case involving classified documents in Florida, to reject Trump’s claim of personal ownership over the top secret files. The FBI had reclaimed these documents from Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, but Trump refused to return them to the National Archives, leading to the case against him. Smith is asking Judge Cannon to disregard Trump’s assertion that he designated the items as “personal” while he was president, calling it “pure fiction.”
In a separate development, Trump is currently engaged in a lawsuit against his fellow co-founders of the parent company behind Truth Social. He is attempting to gain ownership of the company from them.
These latest legal battles are just a few examples of the ongoing legal challenges that former President Trump is facing. Despite losing his claim of presidential immunity and facing upcoming trials, Trump continues to fight legal battles and assert his influence. This signifies an ongoing period of legal scrutiny and potential consequences for the former president.
It is important to note that these events occur against the backdrop of a changing political landscape, with Trump’s supporters eagerly awaiting his potential return to the White House. The former president has promised his Christian followers that November 5th will be “Christian Visibility Day,” a day when he predicts Christians will turn out to vote for him in record numbers. This declaration comes amid a growing focus on religious voters in American politics.
As the legal battles surrounding Trump continue, it remains to be seen how they will impact his political aspirations and future endeavors. It is clear, however, that Trump remains a significant figure in American politics, with his legal challenges drawing attention and sparking debate. The outcome of these legal proceedings will undoubtedly shape the narrative surrounding Trump’s legacy.