The Supreme Court released final opinions for the term Monday. Among them was a highly anticipated ruling regarding President Donald Trump’s immunity from prosecution over his involvement with the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
In a 6-3 decision, the court said the president has “absolute immunity” from prosecution for official acts as president. They sent the case back to a lower court to determine what constitutes an official act, making it unlikely the case goes to trial ahead of the presidential election in November.
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The court has weighed in on abortion, guns, homelessness and the environment in a final flurry of opinions over the past week.
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That's A Wrap
That's a wrap for HuffPost's live blog on the Supreme Court's ruling in the Trump immunity case. We have more live updates on the 2024 presidential race here.
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Pelosi Says SCOTUS Gave Trump A 'Political Gift'
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the Supreme Court "has gone rogue with its decision" to afford Trump immunity for "official acts."
Pelosi said the ruling violates "the foundational American principle that no one is above the law."
"A seriously dangerous aspect of the ruling is its holding that official acts are inadmissible in trials for unofficial acts," Pelosi wrote in a statement. "With its delay, the Republican-appointed 6-3 Court gave the defendant a political gift."
“The Supreme Court placed itself on trial with this decision – and its credibility has been further diminished in the eyes of all those who believe in the rule of law," she continued.
Pelosi said the ruling violates "the foundational American principle that no one is above the law."
"A seriously dangerous aspect of the ruling is its holding that official acts are inadmissible in trials for unofficial acts," Pelosi wrote in a statement. "With its delay, the Republican-appointed 6-3 Court gave the defendant a political gift."
“The Supreme Court placed itself on trial with this decision – and its credibility has been further diminished in the eyes of all those who believe in the rule of law," she continued.
Joe Biden Delivers Ominous Closing To Trump Immunity Remarks
Biden ended his remarks on an ominous note.“May God help preserve our democracy,” he said before walking away from the podium.
The line echoes the closing line of Sotomayor’s minority opinion. “With fear for our democracy, I dissent,” she wrote.
The line echoes the closing line of Sotomayor’s minority opinion. “With fear for our democracy, I dissent,” she wrote.
Joe Biden Says This Is Only Supreme Court’s Latest Grave Error
Biden came down hard on the Supreme Court, saying this is only the latest erroneous decision from the court packed with Trump nominees.
“This decision today has continued the court's attack in recent years on a wide range of long established legal principles in our nation, from gutting voting rights and civil rights to taking away a woman's right to choose,” he said.
“This decision today has continued the court's attack in recent years on a wide range of long established legal principles in our nation, from gutting voting rights and civil rights to taking away a woman's right to choose,” he said.
Joe Biden: SCOTUS Ruling Makes Donald Trump Even More Dangerous
Biden warned Americans that with the court’s new ruling, another Trump presidency will pose an even greater threat.
“It will depend on the character of the men and women who hold that presidency that are going to define the limits of the power of the presidency, because the law will no longer do it,” he continued. “I know I will respect the limits of the presidential powers – I have for three and a half years – but any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.”
“It will depend on the character of the men and women who hold that presidency that are going to define the limits of the power of the presidency, because the law will no longer do it,” he continued. “I know I will respect the limits of the presidential powers – I have for three and a half years – but any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.”
Donald Trump’s Attorneys Move To Throw Out Hush Money Conviction
Trump’s lawyers asked a judge to postpone his sentencing following his conviction on all counts in his Manhattan hush money trial, citing Monday’s Supreme Court decision.
The attorneys said they planned to file a motion to overturn the verdict while the judge considers if the high court’s ruling will impact the conviction. But the gambit may be far-fetched as the Supreme Court’s decision only protects a president’s actions while in office, not while they are a candidate.
The New York Times notes it may be too late for the judge to revisit the conviction anyways as a deadline to file post-trial motions has already passed. The publication added the judge may instruct the former president’s attorneys to raise their concerns during an eventual appeal.
Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in 10 days.
The attorneys said they planned to file a motion to overturn the verdict while the judge considers if the high court’s ruling will impact the conviction. But the gambit may be far-fetched as the Supreme Court’s decision only protects a president’s actions while in office, not while they are a candidate.
The New York Times notes it may be too late for the judge to revisit the conviction anyways as a deadline to file post-trial motions has already passed. The publication added the judge may instruct the former president’s attorneys to raise their concerns during an eventual appeal.
Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in 10 days.
Joe Biden Slams Ruling, Says It Fundamentally Changes America’s Founding Principles
Biden spoke for several minutes from the White House in response to the Supreme Court ruling, slamming it as an attack on fundamental American principles.
“This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each, each of us is equal before the law. No one – no one is above the law, not even the president of United States,” Biden said.
“Today's Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity that fundamentally changed for all for all practical purposes, today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits what the President can do," he continued.
“This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each, each of us is equal before the law. No one – no one is above the law, not even the president of United States,” Biden said.
“Today's Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity that fundamentally changed for all for all practical purposes, today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits what the President can do," he continued.
Top Democrat Will Introduce Amendment To Reverse Supreme Court Decision
Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, said Monday he would introduce a constitutional amendment that would reverse the impacts of the Supreme Court’s decision.
“I will introduce a constitutional amendment to reverse SCOTUS’ harmful immunity decision and ensure that no president is above the law. This amendment will do what SCOTUS failed to do – prioritize our democracy,” Morelle said in a statement. “The former president must be held accountable for his decisions."
"I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and stand with me on the front line to protect our democracy.”
“I will introduce a constitutional amendment to reverse SCOTUS’ harmful immunity decision and ensure that no president is above the law. This amendment will do what SCOTUS failed to do – prioritize our democracy,” Morelle said in a statement. “The former president must be held accountable for his decisions."
"I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and stand with me on the front line to protect our democracy.”
Joe Biden To Speak Soon On SCOTUS Immunity Ruling
The White House just announced that Biden will deliver remarks on the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling at 7:45 p.m. ET. He’ll speak from Cross Hall, a wide hallway on the first floor of the White House.