Supreme Court - Even Donald Trump's Republicans were surprised by the immunity ruling
This decision has the potential to change the course of history: A US President cannot be held accountable for crimes committed in the performance of their official duties – as decided by the highest court of the United States recently. This is a surprising win for the Trump camp. "It's like Christmas," commented an attorney close to Trump in an interview with "Rolling Stone."
Trump's Camp is Caught Off Guard
Although Trump's attorneys had argued for his immunity, their initial goal was different: The demand for absolute immunity from criminal prosecution was supposed to delay several proceedings against Trump until after the presidential election on November 5th of this year, at which point they could have been decided. If Trump were once again President, they calculated, he could terminate the proceedings or grant himself a pardon.
The fact that the Supreme Court granted parts of their argument came as a surprise to Trump's attorneys and advisors. "Should we send John Roberts a fruitcake basket?" joked someone from Trump's inner circle in reference to the leading judge.
Republicans are Confident
Officially, the Republican stance sounds quite different. Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, for example, declared to the "New York Times" that this decision was "a giant victory, not just for Donald Trump, but for the rule of law."
The ruling was a "further setback for the illegal and unconstitutional crusade, with which the Democrats seek to criminalize dissent, put political opponents in prison, establish an authoritarian regime, and replace democracy with a Deep State," ranted Trump's advisor Stephen Miller.
"That's crazy," Senate Minority Leader Mike Johnson countered against fears that future Presidents could use immunity to their advantage in office. "There are many exaggerations. These fantasies they've cooked up that future Presidents could become kingpins," he said. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the judges at the Supreme Court who opposed Trump's immunity during his presidency, mentioned this example in her dissenting opinion.
Other Republican representatives echoed the same sentiment, speaking of the Democrats "weaponizing" the judicial system to harm the unpopular candidate Trump.
Democrats Fear Consequences
The Democrats don't see it that way. President Joe Biden spoke of a "dangerous precedent." He saw "no limits to what a President can do," he declared in a White House speech. "This is a fundamentally new situation."
The Supreme Court itself was divided on this issue. Three of the justices dissented and confirmed their position in separate statements. The President will become "a king above the law" according to the dissenting opinion by Justice Sotomayor. "The Court creates in practice a lawless zone around the President, thereby disrupting the established status quo since the founding of the United States."
Trump's team understands the significance of the decision, as shown by the swiftly drafted plans to use it. In the hours following the ruling, Trump's advisors and lawyers reportedly became absorbed in how they could utilize the newly gained freedom of action for implementing Trump's partially extreme plans for his second term.
Trump's advisors and lawyers began incorporating the arguments underlying the decision into their defense for the upcoming proceedings regarding electoral manipulation.
The first direct consequence is already apparent: Trump filed a brief with the relevant judge hours after the ruling, requesting to withdraw his conviction in the hush money case from last month. He was found guilty in all 34 points. The sentencing announcement was originally scheduled for July 11th.
- Despite the surprising victory in the hush money case, some Republicans, like Senator Mike Johnson, have expressed concerns that future presidents might misuse immunity to their advantage.
- The New York Times reported that Republican Senator J.D. Vance viewed the Supreme Court's decision as a significant victory for the rule of law, while Trump's advisor Stephen Miller saw it as a setback for Democrats' unconstitutional crusade.
- In an interview with Rolling Stone, an attorney close to Donald Trump described the ruling as being like Christmas due to its potential impact on Trump's legal challenges.
- John Roberts, the leading judge at the Supreme Court, was jokingly referred to by someone from Trump's inner circle as deserving a fruitcake basket after the justices granted parts of Trump's attorneys' argument.
- The Democrats, led by President Joe Biden, see this decision as a dangerous precedent that could lead to a lawless presidency, with no limits to a president's power.
