Trump's Legal Troubles Escalate with Major Court Defeats

A U.S. judge has rejected former President Donald Trump's claim of immunity from criminal charges for actions taken during his presidency, ruling that presidents can face criminal charges once they are out of office. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is the first by a U.S. court affirming that presidents can be charged with crimes like any other citizen. The case, brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith, accuses Trump of unlawfully trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. Trump's lawyers argued that the charges violated his free speech rights, but the judge rejected this argument as well. The trial is scheduled to begin in March, and Trump can appeal the ruling.