"A King Above the Law": Supreme Court Rules Presidents Have Broad Immunity from Prosecution
105,783
Published 2024-07-02
In a historic decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled on Monday that presidents have broad immunity from prosecution. The 6-3 ruling by the court's right-wing majority — including all three justices appointed by Trump — was issued on the final day of the Supreme Court's term and just four months ahead of November's presidential election. It will further delay Trump's criminal trial for leading the January 6 insurrection. The ruling upends more than two centuries of legal precedent, for the first time shielding U.S. presidents from criminal accountability. "In one fell swoop, this court has essentially left the American people to the whims of the president of the United States — any president of the United States, but particularly Mr. Trump," says Donald Sherman, executive director and chief counsel of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW. We also speak with Lisa Graves, executive director of the watchdog group True North Research, who says the Supreme Court's conservative wing has left the country "unmoored from the rule of law" by adopting such an expansive view of presidential power. "This decision is the most reckless and dangerous decision ever issued by the U.S. Supreme Court," says Graves.
Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.
Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: democracynow.org/subscribe
All Comments (21)
-
No one is asking the most pertinent question, why? Why would a seated US president need to violate the laws they are SWORN to uphold?!
-
Maybe politicians should not speak on this 😂 cough cough Joe Biden
-
Question: Does the SCOTUS ruling therefore allow the current president to incarcerate the former president as a risk to national security?
-
Judges have immunity. Senators have immunity. Congress has immunity……Why wouldn’t the President have immunity?
-
no one is above the law unless they have dementia
-
Surely we already knew this? Where was the prosecution of George W Bush?
-
One day, Amy, could you tell us how much the American people spent in taxes on Trump’s trials?
-
Funny ppl. Just put your political opponents in jail. That is what these ppl want.
-
Every Supreme Court Justice should be completely neutral.Our whole government should be completely neutral
-
What the hell is happening to our government being “OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE “???
-
The founding Fathers did not want to put up with a King, Authoritarian, Dictator, Tyrant. How this fits in with the principals of America is a complete mystery.
-
"If the band your in starts singing different tunes, I'll meet you on the dark side of the moon".
-
Clear the Court, Joe. You're 100% immune because it's an official act 😂 While you're at it, pack it 😂
-
NOOOO, the President must be the ONE who is prime example of a good citizen who abides by the law!
-
American fascism is here folks.
-
What a loss for our country
-
America is screwed
-
Totalitarianism
-
Perhaps this is what Americans need to wake up and pay attention to whom they put in power. There should definitely be a reform of the Supreme Court as they cannot be trusted. They should have a limited number of years in service.
-
The Supreme Court should just dispense with the nonpartisan pretense. and just say Make America Great Again at the end of their Rulings.
