US Supreme Court rules Trump has 'absolute immunity' from criminal prosecution
(MENAFN) In a significant ruling on Monday, the US Supreme Court declared that American presidents possess "absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution for their official actions. The decision, which addressed charges against former President Donald trump related to the 2020 presidential election, solidifies the principle that presidential power confers immunity from prosecution for actions within constitutional authority.
Federal prosecutors had accused Trump of conspiring to overturn election results by spreading false claims of fraud, allegedly obstructing the collection, counting, and certification of election results. The court's 6-3 decision, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing the majority opinion, emphasized that former presidents are entitled to presumptive immunity for all their official acts under the constitutional structure of separated powers.
The ruling highlighted that while there is immunity for official acts performed within the scope of presidential duties, there is no such immunity for unofficial actions. The decision underscored instances like Trump's public statements and conversations with then-Vice President Mike Pence regarding the certification of election results as falling clearly within the realm of official duties.
This judicial outcome, supported by conservative-leaning justices in the majority, contrasts with dissenting liberal justices, marking a pivotal moment in defining the legal boundaries of presidential immunity and its implications for future executive authority and accountability in the United States.
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