Judge rules that presidents can face criminal charges after leaving office

A federal judge has dismissed ex-President Donald Trump’s claim of presidential immunity in a bid to throw out charges of election interference. In a significant ruling, Judge Tanya Chutkan stated that there is no legal basis for concluding that presidents cannot face criminal charges once they are no longer in office. This marks the first time a US court has confirmed that presidents can be prosecuted like any other citizen, establishing that the highest office does not grant lifelong immunity from criminal accountability. The decision comes as Trump faces four criminal counts, including conspiracy to defraud the US, related to his alleged efforts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. While he has pleaded not guilty, the trial is set to begin in March next year. In addition to this case, Trump is involved in various other legal battles, including allegations of handling classified documents, false accounting involving hush money, and civil fraud trial in New York. The latest ruling has significant implications for future accountability of former presidents and raises questions about the extent of executive immunity in the United States.