US Supreme Court considers monumental case on Trump’s immunity: “Without immunity, no presidency as we know it is possible” | USA 2024
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UpdateSince today, the US Supreme Court has been considering whether Donald Trump can be criminally prosecuted for his actions as president. “Without presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, there can be no presidency as we know it,” the former president’s lawyer said in court today. Although it is questionable whether Trump has a chance of winning the case, he seems to have mainly bought time with the process.
It is the first time that the Supreme Court has considered this question, but the criminal case against Trump is therefore exceptional. He is the first former president to appear in court in a criminal case. For example, Republican Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before prosecution over the Watergate scandal could arise, after which his Vice President Gerald Ford succeeded him and promptly pardoned Nixon.
A lawyer for Donald Trump was questioned by the judges of the highest court of the US on Thursday whether Trump can be criminally prosecuted for his actions as president. The former president himself was not present at the court in Washington because he has to be in New York for the criminal case against him about paying hush money to a porn star.
“Without presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, there can be no presidency as we know it. In the past 234 years of American history, no president has ever been prosecuted for his official actions,” the lawyer defended Trump. According to him, it will have an effect on the decisions a president makes – especially in times when it is most needed – if he can be prosecuted for his decisions after leaving office.
Six of the nine judges are currently considered conservatives. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court does not always rule according to its wishes
Liberal judge Sonia Sotomayor asked the lawyer whether a president also has immunity if he orders the elimination of a political rival. The more conservative Justice John Roberts wondered the same thing if the president appoints an ambassador who has offered him a bribe.
According to the lawyer, bribery is not an official act of a president, but personal action. Roberts countered that appointing an ambassador is indeed an official act.
Inviolability
Trump says that a president must be inviolable, but lawyers say that this is not reflected in the Constitution. If the Supreme Court sees it differently, it would represent a massive expansion of the president’s power. Critics point out that this power can easily be abused.
An advantage for Trump: the Republican clearly shifted the majority on the Supreme Court to the right during his term from 2017 to 2021. Six of the nine judges are currently considered conservatives. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court does not always rule according to its wishes. A potentially monumental legal decision could create a political storm that could have major consequences for this year’s November 5 presidential election.
In any case, the handling of the case by the highest federal judges has led to the postponement of the case involving interference in the election process. Special Prosecutor Jack Smith actually hoped to start the case in March this year.
LOOK. Biden warns of threats to democracy in campaign video
Also read:
Why Trump will become even more dangerous if he wins the election: “All the people who kept him in check have disappeared” (+)
“Quite a strong case”: what are the chances that Trump (77) will be convicted in a hush money trial? (+)
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