Trump election subversion case: Judge rejects effort to dismiss indictment

The federal judge presiding over the election subversion case against former President Donald Trump has rejected a defence effort to dismiss the indictment on claims that he was prosecuted for vindictive and political purposes.

The ruling from US District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Saturday is the first substantive order since the case was returned to her Friday following a landmark Supreme Court opinion last month that conferred broad immunity for former presidents and narrowed special counsel Jack Smith's case against Trump.

In their motion to dismiss the indictment, defence lawyers argued that Trump was mistreated because he was prosecuted even though others who have challenged election results have avoided criminal charges. Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential race, also suggested that President Joe Biden and the Justice Department launched a prosecution to prevent him from winning reelection.

But Chutkan rejected both arguments, saying Trump was not charged simply