Donald Trump has partial immunity for official acts: Supreme Court
Donald Trump has partial immunity for official acts: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court in a landmark ruling Monday said former President Donald Trump enjoys absolute immunity from prosecution for "official acts" during his presidency. Donald Trump is accused of criminally attempting to defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud and deceit to obstruct the electoral vote process -- which his camp claimed as "official acts" protected by his office. Special counsel Jack Smith argued they are still subject to criminal prosecution.
"Big win for our constitution and democracy. Proud to be an American," Donald Trump posted on Truth Social as his first reaction after the verdict.
The court threw out a judicial decision rejecting Donald Trump's bid to shield himself from criminal charges involving his efforts to undo his 2020 election loss.
Read: US Supreme Court rules Donald Trump has immunity for 'official acts': 10 FAQs
The court ruled 6-3 that while former presidents enjoy immunity for actions they take within their constitutional authority, they do not for actions taken in a private capacity. The ruling marked the first time since the nation's 18th century founding that the Supreme Court has declared that former presidents may be shielded from criminal charges in any instance.
Trump is the Republican candidate challenging Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 5 US election. The court's slow handling of the blockbuster case already had helped Trump by making it unlikely that any trial on these charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith could be completed before the election.
Supreme Court's big verdict on Donald Trump: What's next?
- The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision comes just four months ahead of the election.
- The ruling will delay Trump's trial, if any, for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election.
- The court's decision that former presidents enjoy some immunity will not affect the case in New York where Trump faces. sentencing next month after being convicted of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star.
- But today's verdict makes it clear that Trump is unlikely to face any trial before the election.
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