Reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling granting limited immunity to occupants of the Oval Office came swift and strong.
President Biden condemned it as a “dangerous precedent.”
Former President Trump called it a “big win for the Constitution.”
In addition to its historical impact, the ruling also affects an election interference case against Trump.
For the first time in its 235-year history, the court clarified the issue of presidential immunity, ruling 6-3 that presidents have absolute immunity for official acts and presumptive immunity for official actions taken outside the parameter of the explicit duties of the office.
President Trump brought the case to the high court, contending he had absolute immunity from criminal charges based on his official acts as president on January 6, 2021.
“You’re not going to do anything (as president) if you don’t have immunity because otherwise, you’re going to be prosecuted after you leave office,” he said.
A majority of the justices agreed.Â
Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the court’s opinion: “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
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