The Supreme Court ruled today (Monday) that Donald Trump may claim immunity from criminal prosecution for some of the actions he took in the waning days of his presidency in a decision that will likely further delay a trial on federal election subversion charges pending against him. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, rejected Trump’s broad immunity claims and said that Trump only has immunity for his “official” acts as president.
The former president seized upon the reprieve and posted this message on his Social Media platform, Truth Social.
The Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump has some immunity from prosecution in his federal election interference case, further delaying the trial. In a 6-3 decision, the Court determined that Trump is entitled to immunity for his “official” acts as president, but did not specify what constitutes an official act in this case. The ruling, which was complex, leaves it to the lower court to determine the scope of Trump’s immunity.
The decision has been met with criticism from the Court’s liberal justices. In her dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote that the ruling “breaks new and dangerous ground,” suggesting that it could have significant implications for the prosecution of future presidents.
This ruling is a significant victory for Trump, as it could potentially shield him from prosecution for certain actions he took while in office. However, it remains to be seen how the lower court will interpret the scope of Trump’s immunity and whether the trial will proceed as planned.
Jonathan Turley reads through SCOTUS' ruling affirming presidential immunity:
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 1, 2024
"In reading through this opinion, I can't see how this doesn't induce cardiac arrest in the special counsel…The court is imposing a very significant burden on Jack Smith when this goes back to the… pic.twitter.com/mYSoEqqC44