On Monday, July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled former President Donald Trump is immune to criminal prosecution for some actions he took to subvert the results of the 2020 Presidential Election. Voting 6-3 in support of the ruling, Supreme Court justices determined the former reality show host cannot be prosecuted for actions closely related connected to his power as President, such as weaponizing the Justice Department to amplify false claims of voter fraud. However, he can still be prosecuted for actions he took that cannot be connected to his duties as President.
“Big win for our Constitution and democracy. Proud to be an American,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said the ruling was unprecedented due to the nature of the case. He argues other courts did not “distinguish between official and unofficial acts” as President.
“Certain allegations — such as those involving Trump’s discussions with the Acting Attorney General — are readily categorized in light of the nature of the President’s official relationship to the office held by that individual,” Roberts said.
“Trump is … absolutely immune from prosecution for the alleged conduct involving his discussions with Justice Department officials.”
While Roberts may defend the decision, others believe it will embolden the presumptive Republican nominee. Political commentator says it will give Trump a “license to thug.”
“Politically, it’s almost like a ‘license to thug,’ in a way,” Jones continued.
“Like, you can do whatever you want, and the Supreme Court is probably going to let you get away with it. That is very frightening in this case, and so I’m very, very concerned.”
Jones is not the only one concerned. Members of the Biden campaign say the American people should be “scared” because it will given the former President an opportunity to do what “he has been telling us for months.”
“I’m scared as s—t and I think Americans are scared and should be scared of what Donald Trump will do, because he has been telling us for months,” President Biden’s principal deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks said.
“And so I can reassure you that when you do see President Biden out on the trail, he will be talking about the reasons why Americans should be scared of Donald Trump as he has been for months, and this Supreme Court opinion today just amplified that.”
