Supreme Court grants sweeping presidential immunity in historic 6-3 ruling

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Trump v. United States that former presidents have absolute immunity for 'core constitutional' acts and presumptive immunity for all official acts. The decision effectively delayed Trump's January 6 trial past the 2024 election by requiring lower courts to determine which alleged crimes were 'official acts.' Justice Sotomayor's dissent warned: 'Orders the Navy's Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup? Immune. Takes a bribe? Immune.' The ACLU condemned it as 'placing presidents above the law' while the Brennan Center wrote it 'gives the President the power of a king.' The ruling represented a fundamental transformation of presidential power.

"The President is now a king above the law. Orders the Navy's Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup? Immune. Takes a bribe? Immune." — Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissent, Trump v. United States, July 1, 2024