"Trump's Immunity Claim Challenged in Court as Legal Battles Intensify"

Former President Donald J. Trump is arguing for 'absolute immunity' from prosecution for actions taken while in office, based on his acquittal in his second impeachment trial. Trump's legal team suggests that the impeachment judgment clause implies a president not convicted may not face criminal prosecution, a stance seen as a legal long shot and described as having "sweeping and absurd consequences" by critics. The Justice Department's memo from 2000 finds this interpretation unconvincing, and the federal appeals court will soon hear arguments on the matter. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan has already rejected Trump's claim, highlighting the potential for perverse outcomes if his interpretation were accepted.