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Trump court hearing - live: Trump holds news conference after becoming 'agitated' in court as lawyers attempt to have criminal trial scrapped

Donald Trump's lawyers have told appeal judges that he shouldn't face prosecution for efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election that culminated in the 6 January assault on the US Capitol - because he was president, and therefore immune, at the time.

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We're stopping here for today, but you can scroll back through our live blog to read through developments as and when they happened. 

We heard both sides' arguments in this pre-trial appeal - with lawyers representing Donald Trump and the prosecutors' office both claiming that rulings against them would bring about a "frightening future". 

Trump drew the day's events to a close by proclaiming his innocence in typical fashion - stating that he is the subject of an unfair investigation led by Biden-selected prosecutors, officials and judges. 

Trump says he feels 'very confident' he will win

As his briefing starts to wind down, Trump says he feels "very confident" he will win his case. 

He also reiterates what he said at the start of the conference: "I did nothing wrong, we did nothing wrong." 

"A president has to have immunity and the other thing is I did nothing wrong," he adds. 

Several reporters attempt to ask him questions, but the former president leaves without addressing any of them. 

Trump thanks people for treating him fairly

After slating the Democrats, Trump goes on to thank people for the treating him fairly. 

He tells reporters he has been covered "very fairly" but adds that "most people agree" with his argument that he is entitled to immunity. 

However, he returns to taking aim at Joe Biden saying he has done a "horrible job" at the US border, and that "he could be prosecuted". 

"Without immunity, you have to be able to, as president, to do your job," he says. 

'I did absolutely nothing wrong,' Trump says

Donald Trump begins his media conference by praising his team.

He accuses "Biden's DoJ (Department of Justice)" of pursuing him unfairly, before repeating claims his legal team made earlier - suggesting that if he is prosecuted it will open "Pandora's box" and that it would represent a "real threat to democracy". 

Trump has consistently accused President Biden-appointed officials of pursuing him because he is doing well in the polls and poses a threat to his re-election campaign.

He says he has faith in the legal argument put forward by his team, before repeating claims that he did nothing wrong.

"I feel that as a president, you have to have immunity - it's very simple.

"I did nothing wrong. Absolutely nothing wrong."

Donald Trump holding news conference

After attending his appeal hearing in Washington, Donald Trump is holding a news conference. 

The former president says it has been a "very momentous day". 

We'll bring you all the key lines shortly...

When are we expecting an outcome?

We aren't expecting a decision today - but we might not have to wait long for the court's judgment. 

Special counsel Jack Smith has asked the court to move quickly in a bid to keep the trial - set for a 4 March start - on schedule.

Remember - today was an appeal to prevent the trial, rather than the trial itself. 

Donald Trump is the presumptive frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, with an election due in November.

Whatever happens, the losing party is likely to immediately appeal to the Supreme Court. The justices would then face a decision on whether to take up the case and issue their own ruling, potentially also on a fast-tracked basis.

How did Trump react inside the courtroom?

While we were unable to see in the courtroom during the hearing, a reporter at our US partner site NBC News was inside. 

Ryan Reilly said Trump walked in at 9.25am US time, took a sigh, unbuttoned his jacket and sat at the counsels' table. 

He was "mostly muted during his lawyers' arguments", but "grew flustered" during the arguments made by the special counsel, who is prosecuting him. 

"Trump appeared agitated at times during the special counsel's arguments, passing notes to his lawyers on a yellow legal pad," he added. 

"He grew most animated when his lawyer claimed on rebuttal that Trump was winning in the polls, vigorously shaking his head yes." 

Trump leaves court

After nearly two hours inside, Donald Trump has left the court in Washington. 

The former US president was seen leaving in his motorcade. 

There have been some suggestions we could hear from him later today - and we'll bring you live updates right here if that happens.

However, his campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told our US partner NBC News that it's up in the air whether he will address reporters. 

Court adjourned

The court has now adjourned after hearing arguments for just over an hour. 

We are not expecting a judgment today, but the special council, who is prosecuting Trump, has asked the court to move quickly. 

A trial date has been set for 4 March. 

What is the real 'frightening future'?

Donald Trump's lawyer Dean John Sauer is back up. 

He first addresses the "frightening future" James Pearce outlined in his argument a few minutes ago (see 3.30pm post). 

He says the use of presidential immunity is the same as it has been for the past 200-plus years, questioning whether Mr Pearce is scared of constitutional precedent. 

"That's not frightening," he says.

He then turns Mr Pearce's argument around - suggesting the "real" frightening future is the prosecution of a political figure winning in every poll ahead of the next election. 

He says the precedent the court would set in prosecuting Trump is "tailormade to launch cycles of recrimination" going forward.