Hi everyone it's four o'clock in New York I'm Ali Velshe and for Nicole

Wallace a federal court today saying yes to an incredibly important

question looming over our democracy. Can presidents be held accountable by the

justice system for crimes committed while in office? A unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals

rejected Donald Trump's claims of immunity in the federal election case.

The decision by the judges is a stinging rebuke of the ex-president in what has become a months long push to get the charges against him dismissed.

In their ruling, the judges make the point that while Donald Trump is a former president

of the United States, he is in the eyes of the law just another criminal defendant.

Quote, for the purposes of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant, but any executive immunity that the argument advanced by Trump's lawyers that prosecuting

presidents for things they did in office would have a chilling effect

on the office of the presidency finding in fact that the possibility of

legal accountability would in fact be a boost to the rule of law.

Quote, the risk of criminal liability chilling presidential action appears to be low.

Instead of inhibiting the President's lawful discretionary action, the prospect

of federal criminal liability might serve as a structural benefit to deter possible abuses

of power and criminal behavior.

The court also makes it clear that the basic principles of our government are at stake

and that granting Trump immunity would be a cross-the-rubicon moment for our democracy.

Quote, former President Trump's alleged efforts to remain in power despite losing the

2020 election were, if proven, an unprecedented assault on the structure of our government.

He allegedly injected himself into a process in which the president has no role, the counting

and certifying of the Electoral College votes, thereby undermining

...