In a long-awaited ruling, the US Supreme Court has granted Donald Trump partial immunity from prosecution for his actions surrounding the storming of Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. The former president celebrated the ruling as a victory for democracy, while President Joe Biden’s campaign emphasized that it does not change the fact that Trump faced consequences for his actions.
The Court’s decision, made with a 6-3 vote, grants immunity for official actions but not for unofficial ones. According to the Court, a former president is entitled to immunity from criminal prosecution for acts within their constitutional authority, but not for unofficial acts. Chief Justice John Roberts stressed that the president is not above the law and that not everything he does is official. The ruling overturned a previous decision that Trump should not enjoy immunity for the alleged crimes surrounding the election subversion and Capitol storming. Lower courts will now determine which records are considered official, causing a delay in Trump’s trial.
The ruling is seen as a victory for the Republican party and will likely allow Trump to avoid appearing in court before the upcoming election. The former president’s defense had argued for immunity based on his status as president at the time of the events. This decision has significant implications for Trump’s legal battles and political aspirations moving forward.