The recent decision of the Supreme Court that former presidents have complete immunity for their official acts according to Trump, a previous president of the United States, he considered it “a Big win for constitution and democracy.”
Then, as reported by Sky News, the US Supreme Court left it up to the lower courts to determine how this ruling impacted their case on Trump involving charges connected to his role in Capitol Hills riot that took place on 6 January 2021 and alleged efforts to overturn 2020 election results.
Charges leveled against the ex-president included conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiring against Americans’ right to vote and corruptly obstructing an official proceeding despite these accusations, trump has pleaded not guilty. Immediately after this judgment was delivered Trump on social media stated “Proud to be American”.
It is significant because it represents the first time that Supreme Court has ever been faced with whether or not a former President could still be prosecuted. Nevertheless, there were divisions among justices. All three liberal justices objected; Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented very strongly about dissenting justice’s ruling.
Justice Sotomayor wrote regarding today’s decision giving previous Presidents criminal immunity which says: “Today’s decision granting former Presidents criminal immunity rewrites what it means to hold this office. It scoffs at our country’s basic structure and principles – that no one can stand above law,” She added: “Every use of official power now makes a ‘king’ out of The President which renders him above the law. With deep anxiety for our democracy I dissent.”
Eric Holder who is a former Attorney General also expressed his concerns calling it “absurd and dangerous” while saying “Our democracy hung in balance”.
Trump’s legal team had argued that he should enjoy presidential immunity from prosecution due to actions done in his capacity as head of state during his tenure. He was protected from any consequences by virtue of that position they contended. Special Counsel Jack Smith who charged Trump in August last year, disagreed with this notion emphasizing that “no one is above the law”.
There was no trial date set yet as of 4th March, but it was to hold a trial on that day and due to the immunity ruling, this has caused delays. These delays have been further compounded by Supreme Court’s referral of the matter to lower courts. Moreover, any case for these charges is increasingly less likely to reach conclusion before the coming presidential election slated on 5th November.
Apart from this, Trump faces three other cases against him. There are two federal investigations into Trump being conducted by Special Counsel Jack Smith and both of them have led to criminal charges against him. The Washington case focuses on his efforts to reverse the results of 2020 election while Florida affair pertains mishandling secret papers. Also there is another Georgia one arising from actions taken by former president in connection with his failure during last year’s elections.
Trump has consistently alleged that these suits are politically motivated and aim at stopping him returning back to White House.
In May, 78-year-old Trump became the first ex-president ever convicted of a felony when he pleaded guilty for tampering with business records so as hide payment made as hush money during stormy Daniels affairs’ claims which she says she had sex with him even though he denies it .
