Update From July 1 - Tumblr Posts
Should an American president engage in criminal activities while in office and then attempt to cover them up by presenting them as official business, he will remain unpunished.
It is a matter of concern that the more intelligent and criminal a future American president, regardless of party, may be, the greater the likelihood of them being able to avoid prosecution.
This represents a significant challenge to the integrity of the American justice system. It also raises concerns about the future of American democracy.
The highest court of the United States of America has once again demonstrated that it is not neutral in its decisions.
Any impartial jurist will question what the next step might be for those who have been granted such a favourable outcome. This could include acquittal for white collar crimes, bribery, and other forms of criminal activity.
Such a scenario would be beneficial for those who have been accused of such offences and who are seeking to become president.
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Update from July 1, 4:47 p.m.: The US Supreme Court has issued a ruling on the immunity of US presidents from criminal prosecution. The President enjoys partial, but not complete immunity. It is a partial victory for Donald Trump.
On the question of whether former presidents are protected from prosecution, the court in Washington ruled that immunity applies at least for official acts. This is likely to further delay the start of a possible trial against Trump for attempted election fraud. It is considered unlikely that the trial will start before the US election in November.
"The president does not enjoy immunity for his unofficial actions, and not everything the president does is official. The President is not above the law," the decision states. This leaves open which parts of the indictment against Trump still stand in Washington. The Supreme Court did not clarify this question. It is now up to the competent lower court to find out which actions Trump's immunity applies to. This is likely to be a lengthy process.
The ruling was made by six votes to three. The majority of judges, who are considered to be arch-conservative, agreed with the decision in principle. The three judges considered to be liberal dissented.
Supreme Court decides on immunity issue: Trump hopes for absolution
Initial report: Washington, D.C. - What is Donald Trump allowed to do? This question could be answered by the highest court on July 1. This is because the Supreme Court in the USA is ending its current session. The four outstanding rulings are due to be announced on Monday. This includes a decision on Trump, who wants to run again against incumbent Joe Biden in the 2024 US election in November. The 78-year-old had requested that he be granted "absolute presidential immunity" against criminal prosecution.
Trump is claiming immunity in criminal proceedings at federal level, among other things. The trial in the capital, Washington, is about his attempts to hold on to power after his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. The special prosecutor in charge of the case, Jack Smith, who brought charges against Trump in August 2023, rejects the former head of state's claim. The proceedings have been suspended until the Supreme Court has ruled on the issue of immunity.
Does Donald Trump have "absolute" immunity? Supreme Court issues ruling
According to lower court rulings, a former president does not enjoy "absolute" immunity from prosecution. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who presided over Trump's election fraud case, ruled that an incumbent president "cannot be given a lifelong carte blanche". A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals also later unanimously rejected Trump's claims and, according to ABC News, warned that "absolute presidential immunity" would ultimately "collapse our system of separation of powers".
At oral arguments before the Supreme Court in April, the court's conservative majority had indicated support for the notion that former presidents should enjoy some protection from prosecution in certain cases. However, the majority of the court was skeptical of Trump's demand for "absolute presidential immunity". After all, Trump's legal team had even argued that a president who orders the assassination of his political rival could also be protected from prosecution.
Supreme Court decision on Trump's "absolute" immunity: consequences for the US election
The decision on Trump's "absolute" immunity follows a potentially far-reaching ruling in favor of those who stormed the Capitol in Washington in 2021: After the attack on the parliament building, prosecutors had gone too far in some cases, the Supreme Court had ruled on Friday (June 28). The Court specifically overturned an indictment against former police officer Joseph Fischer, who had stormed the seat of Congress in Washington together with hundreds of other people.