Biden Criticizes Supreme Court Ruling on Trump Immunity

President Joe Biden warned on Monday that the US Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity sets a “dangerous precedent” that former President Donald Trump could exploit if re-elected in November.

Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court, dominated by conservative justices, ruled that Trump and all presidents have “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution for “official acts” performed while in office, but can still face penalties for “unofficial acts.”

“For all practical purposes, today’s decision almost certainly means there are no limits to what a president can do. This is a fundamentally new principle, and it’s a dangerous precedent,” Biden stated during a speech at the White House.

Impact on Trump’s Legal Troubles

Trump is currently facing criminal charges over attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. His trial was paused as the Supreme Court deliberated on his immunity claims. The 6-3 decision, split along ideological lines, is expected to delay the proceedings, likely until after the November election.

“The American people must decide if they want to entrust the presidency to Donald Trump again, knowing he’ll be more emboldened to do whatever he pleases,” Biden said.

Majority and Dissenting Opinions

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, stated that a president is “not above the law” but is protected from prosecution for actions taken as part of their official duties. However, unofficial acts remain subject to legal consequences.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, dissenting with the liberal justices, expressed “fear for our democracy,” emphasizing that this ruling could grant presidents immunity for severe abuses of power.

“Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune,” Sotomayor wrote.

Trump’s Reaction

Trump celebrated the decision on Truth Social, calling it a “big win for our Constitution and democracy” and stating it should end “all of Crooked Joe Biden’s witch hunts” against him.

Legal and Political Ramifications

Legal experts, like Steven Schwinn from the University of Illinois Chicago, suggest that the ruling will significantly delay the election interference case against Trump, likely extending beyond the upcoming election.

“The ruling provides a ‘roadmap’ for a US leader to avoid prosecution for particular actions by intertwining them with official government actions,” Schwinn said, adding that this could complicate prosecuting former presidents due to the overlap between official and unofficial acts.

Trump faces four criminal cases and has been attempting to delay trials until after the election. He was convicted in New York in May for falsifying business records related to a sex scandal during the 2016 campaign, marking him as the first former US president convicted of a crime. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11, although his lawyers have sought to overturn the verdict in light of the immunity ruling.

By filing numerous pre-trial motions, Trump’s legal team has delayed the other three trials concerning his 2020 election interference and retention of top-secret documents. If re-elected, Trump could potentially order federal cases against him to be closed upon taking office in January 2025.