The US Supreme Court issued a long-awaited ruling on Monday on former President Donald Trump’s immunity claims.
The measure will directly impact cases in which the Republican is being investigated for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden.
As a result, the political world of the United States responded to the case. Follow below.
Trump celebrates: “Great victory for the Constitution and democracy”
The decision was quickly welcomed by Trump, who called it a “huge victory for our Constitution and democracy” in a post on Truth Social.
The former president’s legal team says it believes it is possible that special counsel Jack Smith’s case into alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election is now completely undermined.
That would be because any communication Trump had with then-Vice President Mike Pence or Justice Department officials could be considered official, preventing it from being presented at trial.
The team also noted that this could even help Trump in the case investigating confidential documents found at a Trump residence, although initial views do not necessarily mean that is how the legal process will ultimately play out.
Biden campaign echoes decision
The Biden campaign said the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity “does not change the facts” and doubled down on claims that former President Donald Trump “went crazy” when he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
“Donald Trump went into a frenzy after losing the 2020 election and encouraged a mob to overturn the results of a free and fair election,” a senior campaign adviser said in a statement.
“Trump is already running for president as a convicted felon for the same reason he sat idly by as the mob violently attacked the Capitol: He thinks he is above the law and is willing to do anything to gain and maintain power for himself,” he concluded.
Democratic Party: Decision points to the “risks of this election”
Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said the Supreme Court’s decision “underscores the stakes of this election.”
“Today’s decision only highlights the stakes of this election — this is not just about party politics, this is about freedom,” he said.
“Here are the facts: On January 6th, Donald Trump inspired a mob of violent insurrectionists who attempted to overturn the results of a free and fair election. He has repeatedly placed himself above our democracy, our Constitution, and the American people,” Harrison said.
“It’s hard to believe, but Trump has only become more unhinged in the years since he lost to Joe Biden, promising to be a dictator on ‘day one,’ suggesting the ‘termination’ of our Constitution to overturn valid election results, and warning of a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses again,” he continued.
“The only thing standing between Donald Trump and his threats to our democracy is President Biden – and the American people will once again stand with democracy in November,” he concluded.
“Victory for Trump,” defeat for “Biden,” says House Speaker
US House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling was a “victory” for Trump.
“Today’s Court decision is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for the armed Justice Department of President Biden and Jack Smith,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s remarks echo Trump’s narrative that special counsel Jack Smith’s efforts were politicized, something that has gained traction among Republican lawmakers and judges.
Democratic Congressional Leaders React
Shortly after the Supreme Court’s decision, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said it was “a sad day for our democracy.”
The New York Democrat also said that “the foundation of our judicial system is that no one is above the law. Treason or incitement of an insurrection should not be considered a core constitutional power granted to a president.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the immunity decision “sets a dangerous precedent for the future of our nation.”
Jeffries added: “No one, including the twice-impeached former president, should be above the law. The Constitution is sacredly binding on everyone. That’s what makes America special.”
Nancy Pelosi calls for violation of “fundamental principle”
Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi also sharply criticized the court’s decision.
“Today, the Supreme Court went rogue with its decision, violating the fundamental American principle that no one is above the law,” he said.
She added that the court has put itself “on trial with this decision — and its credibility has been further diminished in the eyes of all those who believe in the rule of law.”
House Republican Leader Resonates
U.S. House of Representatives Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise praised the Supreme Court’s decision.
“With today’s decision, the Supreme Court has concluded what we have known all along: a president cannot be prosecuted for his official acts. The weaponization (sic) by President Biden’s Justice Department against President Trump is outrageous, unconstitutional and must stop,” Scalise said.
“While it is becoming increasingly clear that Democrats believe their only path to victory in November is by prosecuting their political opponent, today’s decision makes clear that this is not permitted under our constitutional system,” he added.
Trump’s potential vice presidents celebrate
Republican Senator JD Vance, one of Donald Trump’s potential vice presidential running mates, posted on X that the decision is “a huge victory, not just for Trump, but for the rule of law.”
“I’m still digesting it, but this could very well destroy Jack Smith’s entire case against the president,” he said.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, also a potential Trump running mate, called the case “a huge victory” for the country.
“This is a great victory for America [Estados Unidos] and it’s a huge victory for the Constitution. And so it’s a bad day for Biden’s war campaign against President Trump,” Burgum said in an interview on Fox News.
The Republican governor argued that the court’s decision “is not a decision for President Trump” but “for presidents.”
“This decision also protects Joe Biden from immunity from official acts in office and we need to have immunity for presidents of the United States, especially when we are in times, as we are now, where we are waging these proxy wars around the world,” he stressed.
White House issues brief statement
More than four hours after the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity, the White House shared a brief reaction.
“As President Biden has said, no one is above the law. That is a fundamental American principle and how our justice system works. We need leaders like President Biden who will respect the justice system and not undermine it,” said Ian Sams, a spokesman for the Office of the White House Counsel.
That statement does not name former President Donald Trump, but it does indirectly reference what he calls Trump’s efforts to destroy the justice system.
“Lawless and corrupt” court, says former chairman of the January 6 Committee
Bennie Thompson, former chairman of the January 6 Committee, called the U.S. Supreme Court “lawless and corrupt,” saying the court “chose partisanship over its duty to deliver impartial justice.”
“By granting absolute immunity to a twice-indicted criminal for many of his acts that sought to undermine the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election, such as weaponizing the Department of Justice to do his campaign’s bidding, these extreme judges have clearly placed the former president above the law,” he noted.
“Furthermore, they granted criminal defendant Trump even further delays [em processos] — which is not only what he desperately wanted, but will also deny justice to the American people ahead of a critical election,” the Mississippi Democrat said in a statement.
As chairman of the select committee, Thompson played a key role in dissecting Donald Trump’s alleged involvement in the Capitol insurrection following his election defeat.
Source: CNN Brasil
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