Judge denies Trump's argument for immunity in 2020 election lawsuit

A federal judge has rejected former President Donald Trump's attempt to dismiss charges of election interference based on "presidential immunity." Trump's lawyers argued that his actions to reject the 2020 election results were part of his presidential duties. However, Judge Tanya Chutkan found no legal grounds to support the claim that presidents cannot face criminal charges once they leave office. Trump is accused of unlawfully trying to overturn his election defeat. Judge Chutkan stated that being the president does not grant lifelong immunity from criminal accountability. This ruling is the first by a US court confirming that presidents can be prosecuted like any other citizen. Trump is the first former or current US president to face criminal charges. It is uncertain whether Trump's legal team will appeal this decision, as it is one of several recent legal setbacks in the case. In addition, Judge Chutkan has blocked Trump's attempt to obtain records related to the congressional investigation into the US Capitol riot. The former president is involved in various legal battles, including criminal indictments for handling classified documents and alleged false accounting. In New York, Trump, his family, and Trump Organization executives are facing a civil fraud trial, in which the organization has already been ruled to have committed fraud. Prosecutors are seeking a $250 million fine and business restrictions for the Trump family and organization.