President Joe Biden has condemned a Supreme Court ruling that grants former President Donald Trump partial immunity from criminal prosecution, calling it a “dangerous precedent” and a threat to the “rule of law.”
Biden expressed that the decision undermines the legal principles upon which the United States was founded and constitutes a “terrible disservice” to the American people.
In contrast, Trump praised the court’s decision as a “big win” for democracy. The justices ruled on Monday that while a president is immune from prosecution for “official acts,” they are not immune for “unofficial acts.”
This distinction refers the matter back to a trial judge, further delaying the criminal case against Trump for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results that favored Biden.
In a televised statement on Monday night, President Biden emphasised the foundational principle that “there are no kings in America” and that everyone, including the president, is equal before the law.
President Biden said “This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law. Not even the president of the United States.
“Today’s [court] decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president may do.
“The man who sent that mob to the US Capitol is facing potential criminal conviction for what happened that day. The American people deserve to have an answer in the courts before the upcoming election.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling means that the trial judge must now determine which actions Trump carried out in his official capacity as president, a process that could take months and is unlikely to conclude before the November presidential election.
This delay is seen as a significant advantage for Trump, who described it as a “big win” on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The court’s majority opinion granted partial immunity to former presidents, protecting them from prosecution for official duties but not for actions taken in a private capacity.
This ruling applies not only to the 2020 election case but also to other criminal prosecutions Trump faces, including those related to classified documents found at his Florida residence and accusations of election interference in Georgia.
The court’s decision was met with strong dissent from its three liberal justices.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor remarked, “The president is now a king above the law,” while Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu warned of the far-reaching consequences, suggesting that a president could be immune from criminal actions taken in an official capacity.
Trump’s legal team have sent the judge in the case a letter related to this effort and cited the Supreme Court’s opinion, CBS reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. The letter in the case has not yet been made public.
Chioma Kalu
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