President Joe Biden on Monday warned that the Supreme Court docket’s determination to grant presidents immunity from felony prosecution for “official acts” will basically change the nation.
“This nation was based on the precept that there are not any kings in America — every of us is equal earlier than the regulation. Nobody is above the regulation, not even the president of the US,” Biden, talking from the Cross Corridor of the White Home, mentioned. “Right now’s Supreme Court docket determination on presidential immunity — that basically modified for all sensible functions. Right now’s determination virtually actually implies that there are nearly no limits on what the president can do.”
The Supreme Court docket’s 6-3 ruling was a partial however substantial victory for former President Donald Trump. It decided that courts aren’t permitted to inquire into the president’s motives when deciding whether or not an act was official or unofficial, and all official acts are granted absolute immunity.
“This a basically new precept, and it is a harmful precedent as a result of the facility of the workplace will now not be constrained by the regulation, even together with the Supreme Court docket of the US,” Biden mentioned a number of hours after the choice was handed down. “The one limits will likely be self-imposed by the president alone.”
Earlier than leaving the stage, Biden quoted Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s scathing dissent, which learn that the immunity ruling makes the president “a king above the regulation.” He added solemnly: “Could God assist protect our democracy.”
Representatives for the Biden administration didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Enterprise Insider.
