Supreme Court rules on Trump immunity case. Here's what the decision means
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Published 2024-07-01
In a historic 6-3 ruling, the justices said for the first time that former presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for their official acts and no immunity for unofficial acts. But rather than do it themselves, the justices ordered lower courts to figure out precisely how to apply the decision to Trump’s case.
The outcome means additional delay before Trump could face trial in the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.
The court’s decision in a second major Trump case this term, along with its ruling rejecting efforts to bar him from the ballot because of his actions following the 2020 election, underscores the direct and possibly uncomfortable role the justices are playing in the November election.
The ruling was the last of the term and it came more than two months after the court heard arguments, far slower than in other epic high court cases involving the presidency, including the Watergate tapes case.
The Republican former president has denied doing anything wrong and has said this prosecution and three others are politically motivated to try to keep him from returning to the White House.
In May, Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony, in a New York court. He was found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment made during the 2016 presidential election to a porn actor who says she had sex with him, which he denies. He still faces three other indictments.
Smith is leading the two federal probes of the former president, both of which have led to criminal charges. The Washington case focuses on Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. The case in Florida revolves around the mishandling of classified documents. The other case, in Georgia, also turns on Trump’s actions after his defeat in 2020.
If Trump’s Washington trial does not take place before the 2024 election and he is not given another four years in the White House, he presumably would stand trial soon thereafter.
But if he wins, he could appoint an attorney general who would seek the dismissal of this case and the other federal prosecution he faces. He could also attempt to pardon himself if he reclaims the White House. He could not pardon himself for the conviction in state court in New York.
READ MORE: www.13wmaz.com/article/news/nation-world/supreme-c…
All Comments (21)
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"...all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--" - The United States Declaration of Independence (1776)
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"Mr. President, and nothing more!" George Washington, exclaimed to his first cabinet when they were deciding what they should address him by. The reason for this...? Because President Washington just fought against a King, and understood Kings have no place governing on American soil.
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Checks and balances have been dead for god knows how long
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Supreme Court KICKS THE CAN....INTO A LOWER COURT,WHAT BS!!!
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Fuck the law
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immunity has been many president, court ruled that during Clinton. Nixon and Jackson, The first suit brought directly against a president was Mississippi v. Johnson (1867), in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled Andrew Johnson could not be sued as the actions in question were discretionary
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No longer believe in this system.
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Does this cover the current president too?
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“When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers.”
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Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo offered them a retirement package they couldn't refuse.
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Imagine what Trump will do if he is re-elected. SMH!
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Immunity cuts both ways. Let's see how Biden takes advantage of this ruling. 🎯🎯
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This is good so Biden doesn’t have to give up the white house. He can do the same as what Trump did and still stay in office.
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Former President NO immunity after office and not committed during office?
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So this begs the question, how can Biden now use this immunity to his own advantage?
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All rulings will be 6-3 from here on out.
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Thugs thugs thugs.....the USA 🇺🇸 is doomed
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The supreme Court just sold us down the river
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America soon to become the wealthiest third world country
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The Supreme Court is a Federal Court. The only way to counteract their decisions is by congressional law or constitutional amendments which is an involved process but in this case would be worth it.
