Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said it was a “sad day” after the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have absolute immunity for actions taken as part of their core presidential duties.
“This is a sad day for America and a sad day for our democracy. The very basis of our judicial system is that no one is above the law,” Mr. Schumer, New York Democrat, wrote on X. “Treason or incitement of an insurrection should not be considered a core constitutional power afforded to a president.”
In another post, he called the ruling a “disgraceful decision by the MAGA SCOTUS — which is comprised of three justices appointed by Trump himself — enables the former President to weaken our democracy by breaking the law.”
“It undermines SCOTUS’s credibility and suggests political influence trumps all in our courts today,” he said.
The high court ruled that presidents have absolute immunity for actions taken as part of their core presidential duties. The justices ruled that presidents do not, however, have immunity for unofficial acts.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said it’s up to the lower courts to sort out which of then-President Trump’s actions qualify for immunity.
The ruling was 6-3 along ideological lines.
Mr. Trump had argued that he should be exempt from prosecution when it comes to his criminal cases regarding his efforts of election interference in 2020 because it was his “right and duty to investigate, and speak on, the rigged and stolen 2020 Presidential Election.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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