Donald Trump was in court on Tuesday, but this time he wasn’t on trial. Instead, the DC Court of Appeals is deciding whether the US Constitution grants former presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office.
Trump has argued that presidential immunity exempts him from charges alleging he conspired to overturn the 2020 election results. The argument has stalled Trump’s DC federal indictment.
On Tuesday, the three-judge panel seemed skeptical of Trump’s immunity argument. They asked his lawyer whether a president could hypothetically be charged for ordering the military to assassinate a political rival – to which Trump’s lawyer responded only if the House and Senate first found him guilty in an impeachment hearing.
Remember: Trump was impeached by the House for his actions on Jan. 6 but then acquitted by the Senate.
The judges posed hypotheticals to the other side too, asking federal prosecutors whether denying Trump immunity could result in a future in which presidents are flooded with partisan criminal charges.
The Appeal Court’s decision, which will likely hinge on the judges’ interpretation of the Constitution’s impeachment clause, will be announced Wednesday. Whichever side loses is expected to appeal – likely sending it to the Supreme Court. Then the question becomes: Is there enough time for a high court decision before November’s election?
With the US leading production and China driving new reactor development, Bank of America breaks down the who, what, where, when, and why behind nuclear’s return. Stay ahead of global energy trends with Bank of America Institute.
Chris, an Army veteran, started his Walmart journey over 25 years ago as an hourly associate. Today, he manages a Distribution Center and serves as a mentor, helping others navigate their own paths to success. At Walmart, associates have the opportunity to take advantage of the pathways, perks, and pay that come with the job — with or without a college degree. In fact, more than 75% of Walmart management started as hourly associates. Learn more about how over 130,000 associates were promoted into roles of greater responsibility and higher pay in FY25.
Last week, at the Munich Security Conference, a group of global technology providers, including Microsoft, announced the Trusted Tech Alliance — committed to shared, verifiable principles for trusted, transparent, and resilient technology across borders. At a moment of economic volatility and zero-sum technological competition, countries and customers are demanding greater accountability from technology providers. The Alliance addresses this by bringing together companies from across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America around shared commitments: transparent governance, secure development practices, supply chain oversight, open digital ecosystem, and respect for the rule of law — ensuring the benefits of emerging technologies strengthen public trust while driving job creation and economic growth. Explore the Trusted Tech Alliance here.