Here is the appellate court's denial of Trump's claim of immunity:
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415/gov.uscourts.cadc.40415.1208593677.0.pdf

The decision opens by summarizing the allegations in the indictment, being careful to add that guilt hasn't yet been determined.

The court then dismisses the idea that they don't have jurisdiction over the issue and concludes that it does.

Then, on to immunity. The court rejects Trump's "separation of powers" argument, saying this:

That's strong language.

1/

While saying that this is an issue of first impression, the decision is constantly citing Supreme Court precedence and rulings. (The hope of course is that SCOTUS declines to hear the case or, if it does, declines to delay the trial.)

Screenshot #1: The court cites SCOTUS to debunk the "but he was the PRESIDENT" argument.

Screenshot #2: The idea here is: SCOTUS said a president is not immune from responding to a criminal subpoena why would he be immune from criminal indictment?

2/

As you might expect, courts really didn't like being told they had no authority to preside over the criminal trial of a fromer president. (Screenshot #1)

Criminal acts are not shielded by immunity and an indictment means a grand jury alleges that there were criminal acts, therefore, court have authority.

So simple, really.

Legislators have criminal or civil immunity for "what they say or do in legislative proceedings" but that criminal immunity is limited and doesn't apply here.

3/

The decision next spends some time on who has immunity for what.

Footnote #7 contains some mild judicial snark. Good lawyers don't quote dicta. (Being told by an appellate justice that you quoted dicta is almost as bad as being told you "misrepresented" the facts.) (Screenshot #1)

Next they analyze whether finding a president criminally liable under "functional policy considerations" and conclude that it is good policy. (Screenshot #2)

4/

And no, this won't "inhibit" presidents, except perhaps to inhibit them from breaking laws (my paraphrase of Screenshot #1)

In response to Trump's "this will open the floodgates to political persecutions" the Court points out the safeguards in place, grand juries, rules of evidence, etc.

Oh goodness. Screenshots 2 and 3 are 🔥

5/

(Am I up to 5? I can think, type, and read at the same time, but counting and spelling correctly are while thinking, reading, and typing is just too much 😂)

@Teri_Kanefield do i understand right, that Trump would allow Biden to commit a federal crime without punishment? Verrrry bad idea lol...

@Dingsextrem @Teri_Kanefield

Biden to invite Trump on a cup of Russian tea?