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Trump ‘not immune’ from charges in 2020 election case

The decision in favour of the <i>N.Y. Times</i> adds to Donald Trump's legal woes.

The decision in favour of the N.Y. Times adds to Donald Trump's legal woes. Photo: Getty

Donald Trump does not have immunity from criminal charges for trying to reverse his 2020 US presidential election loss, federal prosecutors say, opposing his bid to dismiss the case.

“No constitutional provision or historical practice supports conferring absolute immunity from criminal prosecution on a former president,” Washington prosecutors said in a court filing on Thursday.

Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has claimed in legal filings that he has sweeping immunity from criminal charges for actions he took while serving as president from 2017 to 2021.

He was charged in August by US Special Counsel Jack Smith with four felony counts for attempting to interfere in the counting of votes and to block the certification of the 2020 election, which he lost to Democratic President Joe Biden.

In an October 5 court filing, Trump’s lawyers said he cannot be prosecuted for his efforts to ensure “election integrity” because they were “at the heart of his official responsibilities as President”.

The case is one of four criminal prosecutions Trump, 77, faces as he seeks to retake the White House.

– AAP

Topics: Donald Trump
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