The Supreme Court on Monday ruled former President Donald Trump may have some immunity from prosecution related to actions he took in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
“Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in a 6—3 majority opinion.
Since April, the high court has been toiling over its decision in Trump v. United States, which stems from special counsel Jack Smith’s four-count indictment alleging Trump attempted to subvert the 2020 election results and that Trump intended for the Jan. 6 riot to happen.
The central issue in the case was whether Trump is immune from prosecution for his conduct in office after the 2020 election. Smith, who had secured victories in two lower courts on the immunity argument, argued that Trump’s actions fell outside the scope of presidential duties and should not be protected.
The Supreme Court’s decision to delay the ruling until July 1 has provided Trump with a temporary reprieve from seeing the case get to trial ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
During oral arguments, some members of the court appeared to acknowledge there could be instances where a former president’s actions might be shielded by immunity.
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Trump pleaded not guilty in August to a four-count indictment related to election subversion.
This story is developing.
