Supreme Court's Trump immunity ruling poses risk for democracy, experts say

[mahatmakanejeeves]

DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA
Supreme Court’s Trump immunity ruling poses risk for democracy, experts say

The court’s decision raised fears that a future president will be able to act with impunity because official acts of the president have been deemed off limits from prosecution.

By Patrick Marley
July 1, 2024 at 8:37 p.m. EDT

In its immunity decision Monday, the Supreme Court emphasized the long-cherished ideal that no one in America is above the law, not even the president.

The court’s dissenters and a chorus of critics said the majority had undercut that notion, elevating the president to a king who can easily avoid prosecution. They warned of future presidents unbound from the rule of law who could freely engage in criminal activity. And they pointed to the prospect of a second term for Donald Trump — the man whose indictment on charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election prompted the Supreme Court to weigh in — as a moment when their worst fears could be realized.

“If a future president sitting in the Oval Office were to want to commit crimes, up to and including subverting an election or remaining in power against the will of the American people, this opinion, in my mind, could provide a road map for that,” said David Becker, the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research.

Becker, a former voting rights attorney with the Justice Department, said he believed the prosecution of Trump for his past behavior can advance in some form. But holding Trump and other presidents accountable will be far more difficult after Monday’s ruling, he said.

{snip}

By Patrick Marley
Patrick Marley writes about voting issues in the Upper Midwest for The Washington Post. He previously covered the Wisconsin Capitol for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Twitter https://x.com/patrickdmarley

[CincyDem]

1. Let me get this straight...SCOTUS dramatically expanded the degree to which a president can act like a king and...

…the big story is how Trump may abuse it.

But what if the story were how Biden has been granted dramatically expanded authorities to combat the existential threat to democracy posed by TFG.

I mean, if we’re so worried what TFG will be able to do with them, should we be equally excited by what Biden can do with them.

Yes, SCOTUS was wrong to elevate the president above the law but that’s exactly where Biden is today. Instead of worrying about what TFG will do…time to pick up the power and use it.

Power…use it or lose it.

[Wuddles440]

2. Their ruling addresses...

criminal behavior and ultimately grants the MAGAT controlled SCOTUS the authority to determine what are "official" and "unofficial" acts. It's become very apparent that their subsequent decision will be based on the political affiliation of the alleged offender. Also, as the MAGATS control the House currently, any such action taken by President Biden that they can frame as extraordinary or exceptional will result in an immediate impeachment proceeding. Sorry, the ugly reality.

[CincyDem]

3. Let's think through this...

It will take months, if not years for that. By which time Biden will be in his second term. Hold 60 seats in the senate and it goes nowhere.

There are a lot of ugly realities but this ain’t one of them.

[Wuddles440]

4. Obviously...

we operate in entirely different realities and dimensions. I truly wish I was in whatever world you're in, because mine is one where democracy and the rule of law just received the coup de grace. Good luck and best wishes in your reality.