A U.S. judge has dismissed two criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump concerning alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and the mishandling of classified documents.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan follows a request from Special Counsel Jack Smith, who cited a longstanding Justice Department policy that prohibits prosecuting a sitting president.
The Justice Department’s policy, established in the 1970s, asserts that prosecuting a sitting president would undermine their constitutional ability to govern effectively.
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The order concludes a years-long federal effort to hold Donald Trump criminally responsible for his attempts to hold onto power following his 2020 election defeat, which resulted in the Jan 6. 2021 siege in Washington D.C.
Trump, who recently won the November 5 election and is set to be inaugurated on January 20, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, labeling the legal actions as politically motivated. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung labelled the dismissal as a “major victory for the rule of law.”
The order raises questions about whether prosecutors could seek to recharge the president-elect once he leaves office.
Courts will still need to approve both requests from prosecutors.
Recently, Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a crime when he was found guilty of felony charges in relation to hush money paid to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. A judge has adjourned his sentencing indefinitely.
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