News - World: The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled that former President Donald Trump does not have executive immunity in an election interference case lodged against him.

"[A]ny executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution,” the three-judge panel ruled on Tuesday.

“For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant,” its ruling read.

In response, Trump's campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement that, "President Trump respectfully disagrees with the DC Circuit’s decision and will appeal it in order to safeguard the Presidency and the Constitution."

He said all future presidents will face legal action for their decisions while in office.

"If immunity is not granted to a President, every future President who leaves office will be immediately indicted by the opposing party. Without complete immunity, a President of the United States would not be able to properly function!" he argued.

This is the second time in as many months that court judges are ruling that Trump can be prosecuted for the decisions he made during his 4-year term in the White House.

US District Judge Tanya Chutka, who is presiding over the case, rejected Trump legal team's arguments in December and said the office of the president “does not confer a lifelong ‘get out of jail free’ pass”.

The Supreme Court has declined to weigh in on the matter, leaving it up to the appeals court ruling for the time being.

Source: Press TV