“The President Is Now a King Above the Law” Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Legal Maneuvering by Trump
(AP)
The ink was barely dry on the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling before Donald Trump’s lawyers filed motions to compel New York Judge Juan Merchan to overturn the guilty verdict in the hush money trial and push back his sentencing. Judge Merchan responded by moving the July 11 sentencing date to September 18, “if such is still necessary.”
Trump’s attorneys argued that Manhattan prosecutors placed “highly prejudicial emphasis on official-acts evidence,” relying heavily on Trump’s tweets and witness testimony about Oval Office meetings, likely referencing senior aide Hope Hicks’ tearful testimony.
Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig described the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision as a significant advantage for Trump’s legal team. “This thing is a disaster for prosecutors,” Honig said on CNN‘s “The Source.”
The ruling impacts various prosecutors handling Trump-related cases, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, and Fulton County DA Fani Willis. It also affects state judges like Merchan and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the Georgia RICO election interference case. Federal judges, such as U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida and Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington D.C., are also navigating the ruling in their respective cases involving Trump.
The Supreme Court’s decision grants presidents astonishing powers, shielding them from legal reprisal for actions considered core official acts, while leaving private acts as fair game. Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticized the ruling, writing in her dissent, “The president is now a king above the law.”
Honig commented, “This opinion is a godsend from heaven for Donald Trump,” highlighting the favorable yet vague definition of “official act” provided by the court. “The way that the Supreme Court defines ‘official act’ is astonishingly broad,” Honig explained. “…It’s also so vague that it’s going to be almost impossible for Judge Merchan or Judge Chutkan to apply it.”
As Trump’s legal battles continue, the Supreme Court ruling significantly complicates the efforts of prosecutors and judges aiming to hold him accountable. The upcoming months will be crucial in determining how these legal challenges unfold and what precedents will be set for presidential immunity.
