Prominent Republicans urge court to throw out Trump's 'dangerous' argument

Former President Donald Trump's argument for presidential immunity regarding the plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election is "dangerous" for America well beyond the current moment, warned Republican experts in an amicus brief to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, Salon reported on Wednesday.

"Nothing in our Constitution, or any case, supports former President Trump's dangerous argument for criminal immunity," said the brief. "The last thing presidential immunity should do is embolden Presidents who lose re-election to engage in criminal conduct, through official acts or otherwise, as part of efforts to prevent the vesting of executive power required by Article II in their lawfully-elected successors."

Among the signatories to the brief are former Sen. John Danforth (R-MO), former Reagan administration Solicitor General Charles Fried, and former Rep. Mickey Edwards (R-OK), who once chaired the Conservative Political Action Conference.

The appeals court is currently considering Trump's claim that he is immune from prosecution for any action taken while he was president, which District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing special counsel Jack Smith's election conspiracy case against Trump, already rejected.

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Legal experts have warned such a ruling would essentially amount to a "divine right of kings" for the U.S. president, letting them commit whatever illegal act they want under the guise of their office.

Smith's case is currently on hold while the immunity argument is heard.

The Supreme Court rejected a bid by Smith to leapfrog the appellate court and take the case directly, but they are likely to still get involved after the appellate court rules.