The US Supreme Court made a historic ruling: The president enjoys extensive immunity and is thus protected from prosecution. Immunity covers all areas that concern the core of the presidential office—such as pardons or the right of veto in the legislative process. ” Presumed immunity” applies to all “official acts; private acts are not protected.
The Supreme Court had to clarify the immunity issue after former President Donald Trump‘s defense attorneys filed a motion to do so. They wanted to ensure that the lawsuit against Trump regarding the insurrection and storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was dropped. They failed in an appeals court. They then went to the Supreme Court – and the highest court has now given them partial success. Now, the federal court in DC, which is hearing the lawsuit on January 6, has to define which of Trump’s actions were “official” and which were “private”. This will further delay the trial and it will probably not be able to begin before the election in November. But the ruling has even more far-reaching consequences – for Trump’s further proceedings, but also for the political structure of the USA as a whole. How much power will the president have in the future and how much risk of abuse is there?
This also raises the question of how much power the Supreme Court has. The current conservative majority has already made a number of rulings that have changed American society. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find consensus with the liberal judges. Overall, the court, which is actually neutral, is now highly politicized and enjoys less and less respect among the population.
Where is the US Supreme Court heading? This episode of “ To the Point: The US Election ” is about that – and the aftermath of the botched TV debate for Joe Biden.
The editorial deadline for this broadcast was Thursday, July 4, 2024, at 3 p.m.
Moderation, editors: Stefan Kornelius, Nadja Schlüter
Editor: Vinzent-Vitus Leitgeb
Production: Carolin Lenk
Additional and quoted audio via @JoeBiden, @DonaldJTrumpforPresident, @ThisisthePresident, @WhiteHouse (all YouTube), MSNBC, CBS 8 San Diego, and AP.
