Biden warns Trump can do ‘whatever he pleases’ if elected as Republicans relish Supreme Court immunity ruling: Live

Twice-impeached convicted felon and Republican presidential candidate handed huge win by conservative-majority bench

Biden slams Supreme Court immunity ruling

Joe Biden slammed the US Supreme Court for its ruling on Donald Trump’s immunity from criminal prosecution during an address to the nation from the White House on Monday evening.

“For all practical purposes, today’s decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do,” the Democrat said.

“This is a fundamentally new principle. And it’s a dangerous precedent.”

Earlier, the court ruled that Trump has protection from prosecution for official acts conducted during his time as president – but not “unofficial” acts.

The ruling could have a huge impact on cases connected to his attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election and profound consequences for any future attempts to hold American presidents to account over crimes committed from the Oval Office.

The 6-3 majority decision was opposed by all three liberal justices on the bench, with Sonia Sotomayor warning in her dissent: “The president is now a king above the law.”

Meanwhile, Biden is still struggling to instil calm within his party following his disastrous debate performance last week, with Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer reportedly warning he cannot win her swing state in November as things stand.

Key Points

• Supreme Court awards Donald Trump some immunity from prosecution
• Trump says SCOTUS decision should end all cases against him
• Where do the Trump prosecutions stand after Monday’s dramatic ruling?
• Dissenting liberal justice: ‘The president is now a king above the law’
• Congressman promises constitutional amendment to ‘reverse’ immunity ruling

[2 July 2024 13:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

Trump attorney claims alternate electors scheme was ‘official act’ in light of Supreme Court ruling

Full marks to the commentator responding to Will Scharf here.

Bravo sir.

[2 July 2024 13:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Clarence Thomas just gave Trump ammunition in his Mar-a-Lago case

Justice Clarence Thomas joined the Supreme Court’s five other conservatives to grant Trump and other presidents unprecedented immunity from criminal prosecution.

But he also wrote his own opinion taking aim at the special counsel handling the election interference case at the center of the ruling – days after Trump’s attorneys made the same arguments in a Florida courtroom.

Thomas went so far as to say that the federal judge overseeing Trump’s election interference case should reconsider whether Jack Smith was even lawfully appointed to the job, giving Trump and the judge presiding over Trump’s classified documents case more legal ammunition in his favor.

“If this unprecedented prosecution is to proceed, it must be conducted by someone duly authorized to do so by the American people,” Justice Thomas wrote.

“The lower courts should thus answer these essential questions concerning the Special Counsel’s appointment before proceeding.”

Over seven pages, he goes on to argue against the appointment of special counsels, laying the groundwork for more challenges to Smith’s authority while Trump and his allies undermine his office in court and in Congress.

Alex Woodward has more.

[2 July 2024 12:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

Congressman promises constitutional amendment to ‘reverse’ Supreme Court immunity ruling

New York Democrat Joe Morelle is pledging action in an attempt to overturn the conservative justices’ “harmful” decision yesterday.

From the same patch, AOC has also been talking up impeachment.

[2 July 2024 12:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Trump’s attorneys want to throw out hush money verdict based on Supreme Court ruling

Attorneys for Trump have reportedly sent a letter to the judge overseeing his hush money trial in New York in the hopes of delaying his sentencing and blocking his guilty verdict in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that grants him some immunity from prosecution.

The letter, first reported by The New York Times, arrived shortly after a ruling from the nation’s high court that shields Trump and any other president from criminal prosecution for actions considered “official” duties while in office.

Alex Woodward has more.

[2 July 2024 11:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

Where do Trump’s criminal cases stand now?

The Supreme Court’s monumental decision on whether Trump is shielded from criminal prosecution for his actions in office will likely derail his election interference trial.

Alex Woodward takes a closer look.

[2 July 2024 11:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

‘Americans should be scared’: Biden allies issue forceful rhetoric after bad debate performance

President Biden’s re-election campaign has shifted into a full-court press against Trump in response to the incumbent’s disastrous debate performance last week.

On a press call Monday, Biden campaign surrogates including former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks warned that American democracy would disappear in November if Democrats and concerned Americans did not rally behind the president.

The call was organized in response to the Supreme Court’s decision granting Trump and all US presidents limited immunity from prosecution for official acts.

It also appears to be in response to newfound concerns from his own party that Biden isn’t a strong enough candidate to win the presidential election.

Here’s more from John Bowden and Andrew Feinberg.

[2 July 2024 10:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

Biden slams immunity ruling calling it ‘a terrible disservice’

After his disastrous debate performance, the president did much better yesterday responding to that shocking Supreme Court ruling, telling the nation it gives the executive office, and possibly Trump, the power “to do whatever he pleases, whenever he wants to do it.”

Here’s a full report from Andrew Feinberg.

[2 July 2024 10:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Trump gloats on Truth Social: ‘The Supreme Court gave the Deranged One a high level SPANKING!’

The twice-impeached convicted felon running on the Republican ticket has gotten in plenty of gloating since yesterday’s ruling was announced.

Here’s his latest, taunting special counsel Jack Smith:

This is what else he had to say yesterday.

Martha McHardy has more on Trump and MAGA’s reaction.

[2 July 2024 09:30 · Oliver O'Connell]

Why is Trump still complaining?

Eric Garcia writes:

Former president Donald Trump got almost everything he could have wanted in the past week and a half.

Not only did President Joe Biden’s performance at the debate on Thursday evening in Atlanta send the Democratic Party into a collective panic — with some even speculating that the party would need to replace the president — but Trump has received legal rulings that have benefited him and his political movement.

Nevertheless, because he is who he is, he can’t help but continue to air his grievances.

Continue reading...

[2 July 2024 08:30 · Oliver O’Connell]

Full story: SCOTUS grants Trump immunity for ‘official’ acts in ruling that will delay trial

Former presidents have some immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday – extending the delay in the criminal case against Donald Trump on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss, and all but ending prospects he could be tried before the November election.

In a 6-3 decision released on Monday, the court rejected Trump’s suggestion of total immunity but said some of the actions laid out in the federal election interference indictment related to his official acts and are protected.

Ariana Baio and Alex Woodward report.