Trump Seeks Dismissal of D.C. Case, Saying He’s Immune to Prosecution

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THE TRUMP CASES

Trump seeks dismissal of D.C. case, saying he’s immune to prosecution

Updated October 5, 2023 at 5:44 p.m. EDT | Published October 5, 2023 at 2:50 p.m. EDT

Lawyersforformerpresident DonaldTrump urgedafederaljudgeThursdaytotossouttheindictmentagainsthim forallegedlyconspiringto blocktheresultsofthe2020election,arguingthataspresidentatthetime,hewasacting withinthelegalboundaries“attheheartofoursystemofgovernment.”

TrumplawyersJohnLauroandToddBlanche,ina 46-pagefiling,arguethatTrumpisimmunetoprosecutionfor theactscitedintheindictmentfiledbyspecialcounselJackSmith—alegalclaimtheyhavebeenmakingsincethe indictmentwasfiledinAugust.

“AstheConstitution,theSupremeCourt,andhundredsofyearsofhistoryandtraditionallmakeclear,the President’smotivationsarenotfortheprosecutionorthisCourttodecide.Rather,where,ashere,thePresident’s actionsarewithintheambitofhisoffice,heisabsolutelyimmunefromprosecution,”thefilingargues.

Trumpdeniesthechargesleveledintheindictment—thatheconspiredtoobstructJoeBiden’s2020victoryinthe presidentialelection,andalsoconspiredagainstAmericans’righttovoteandhavethosevotescounted.Thedefense argumentfordismissal,however,isnotaboutwhetherTrumpdidwhatprosecutorsaccusehimofdoing,butrather whetherheisimmunefromprosecutionbecausehewaspresidentatthetime.

Inthefiling,Trump’sattorneysdetailsomeofthesamepost-election interactionsthatprosecutorsnoteinthe indictment,includingmeetingsandcommunicationswithJusticeDepartmentofficials.

Butintheirtelling,ifTrumpparticipatedinthesemeetingshewasactingwithintheboundsofhispresidency—not committingcrimesasprosecutorsallege.

Intheirmotion,thelawyersarguethatthecourtshavelongshieldedU.S.presidentsfromlawsuitsoveractions takenwhiletheywereservinginthatposition—andsaythesameprincipleshouldextendtocriminalprosecutions.

Thelawyersadd,however,thattheSupremeCourthasnotweighedinonthisissueofwhetherorwhenapresidentis immunetocriminalcharges—suggestingitcouldbealegaldebatetakenupnotjustbythetrialjudge, Tanya Chutkan,butanappealscourtorthehighestcourtintheland.

DemocracyDiesinDarkness

“NocourthasaddressedwhethersuchPresidentialimmunityincludesimmunityfromcriminalprosecutionforthe President’sofficialact,”thelawyerswrote.Theyarguedthatthepropervenuetodecidetheguiltorinnocenceofa presidentisimpeachmentintheCongress.TrumpwasimpeachedbytheHouseofRepresentativesforactions surroundingJan.6butultimatelyacquittedbytheSenate.

TheJusticeDepartment’sfour-countindictmentchargesthatTrump’sactionsafterhelostthe2020election amountedtoacriminalconspiracytoremaininpower.Itisoneof fourfelonyprosecutions Trumpisfacing, includinga statetrialinGeorgia thatinvolvessimilarallegationsoftryingtoobstructtheelectionresultsinthat state;a federalindictmentinFlorida overTrump’sallegedhoardingofclassifieddocumentsafterleavingtheWhite Houseandobstructionofgovernmenteffortstoretrievetheinformation;anda state-levelcaseinNewYork inwhich Trumpisaccusedoffalsifyingbusinessrecordsinconnectionwithahushmoneypaymentmadeduringthe2016 electioncampaign.

Trump’slawyersintheNewYorkcasealsofileda dismissalmotionThursday

Blanche,whoisrepresentingTrumpinbothcases,andattorneySusanNechelesarguedthecasebroughtby ManhattanDistrictAttorneyAlvinBraggwasanunjusteffortthatreliedonnovellegaltheoriesandaproblematic witness.Theprobebeganin2019anddidnotyieldanindictmentuntilMarch,whichBlancheandNechelessaid constitutesaviolationofTrump’sdueprocessrights.

IntheD.C.motiontodismiss,BlancheandLauro wrotethatallegingthepresidentactedillegallydoesnot necessarilymeanthatheactedbeyond“theouterperimeter”ofhisjob,citingaSupremeCourtcasefromtheNixon era.TheyarguedthatifTrumpwasnotimmunetoprosecutionforhisactions,apresidenttheoreticallycouldbe subjectedtoatrialeverytimesomeoneallegedhewasactingillegally.

AnydecisionbyChutkanislikelytocomeafteracounter-argumentfromprosecutors,andpossiblyahearingonthe matter.

Legalexpertshavesaidthattheissueofpresidentialimmunityisonethatthehighercourtsmaytakeupbefore Trumpgoesontrial—arareexceptiontogeneralcourtpractice,whichsays mostappealsissuesmustwaituntilafter averdict.

Trump’sattorneysuggestedthattheymayfileadditionalpretrialmotionsincomingdays.Chutkanhassaidallsuch motionsmustbefiledbyMondayevening.

“Otherfataldeficienciesintheindictmentwillbeaddressedinfuturemotion(s)andproceeding(s),”thefilingstates.

ShaynaJacobsinNewYorkcontributedtothisreport.

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