Republicans are hailing the Supreme Court’s ruling that presidents have immunity from prosecution for official acts as a major victory over the “weaponization” of government, as the ruling deals a blow to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution of the former President Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
“Today’s decision by the Court is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for President Biden’s armed Justice Department and for Jack Smith,” said President Mike Johnson (R-La. ) in a statement, adding that it is “based on the obviously unique power and position of the presidency and is in accordance with the Constitution and common sense.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) similarly said that the Justice Department’s “weaponization” of the Justice Department’s case against Trump “is outrageous, unconstitutional and must stop.”
“While it is becoming increasingly clear that Democrats believe their only path to victory in November is to prosecute their political opponent, today’s decision makes clear that this is not permitted in our constitutional system,” he said. Scalise in a statement.
Allegations of a “weaponized” government against Biden’s political opponents have become central to the Republican Party as Trump has faced numerous lawsuits, criminal charges, convictions and investigations since coming to power. Combined, they fueled the Republican Party’s defenses of the former president.
Sen. John Barrasso (Wyo.), Senate GOP chairman and the highest-ranking Republican to comment on the decision Monday afternoon, called the opinion “another victory for democracy and the rule of law against lawlessness of the Democrats.” accusing the Democrats and Biden of “weaponizing the justice system” against Trump.
There is no evidence that Biden directed any prosecution against Trump. His campaign, however, said Monday that the decision “amplified” the president’s arguments about the threat Trump poses.
The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision on Monday, ruled that presidents have immunity from prosecution for official acts. The case was sent back to D.C. District Court, where proceedings were paused to evaluate Trump’s immunity claims.
The decision leaves room, however, for areas of the prosecution to move forward, such as Trump’s pressure campaign on former Vice President Mike Pence, leading up to January 6, to move forward in court.
Chief Justice John Roberts instructed the lower court to evaluate “whether a proceeding involving Trump’s alleged attempts to influence the vice president’s oversight of the certification process in his capacity as president of the Senate would pose any danger of intrusion in the authority and functions of the Branch Executive.”
Dissenting justices and Democrats expressed alarm over the implications of the ruling and questioned how far such immunity could go.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissent, suggested that the ruling meant a president could order the assassination of his political rivals.
“Order Navy Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune,” she wrote. “Do you organize a military coup to stay in power? Immune. Do you accept bribes in exchange for forgiveness? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) took direct aim at this dissent.
“The Supreme Court’s dissent in this case is foolish in every way, particularly Justice Sotomayor and Justice Jackson’s argument that this decision allows a president to assassinate his opponent. Liberal members of the Court and the Left have lost their minds when it comes to President Trump,” Graham wrote on social platform X.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and its select subcommittee on government weapons, called on the ideological left to “stop their attacks on President Trump and defend democratic norms” while welcoming the decision — adopting a phrase about democratic norms that Democrats have often used to express alarm over Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 riot that defied the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
