SCOTUS immunity ruling says former presidents have immunity for “official acts”
Jul 1, 2024, 9:01 AM | Updated: 8:10 pm
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 4: A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday morning January 4, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
(Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Listen to ABC News Legal Analyst Royal Oakes talk about impact of the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have immunity for “official acts.” However they are not immune from prosecution of unofficial acts. The SCOTUS immunity ruling is unprecedented, as no other former president has been charged after their term.
The justices voted 6-3 on the decision, Bloomberg reported. Their votes corresponded with ideological lines.
Despite the SCOTUS immunity ruling, the court left the decision of how to apply it to Former President Trump’s election interference trial to lower courts.
The Associated Press reported that it will add further delays to the trial. However, it doesn’t mean the case has been dismissed.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has been directed by the court to assess which elements of his indictment will or will not be shielded from immunity.
According to NBC News, Chief Justice John Roberts said Trump’s interactions with Former Vice President Mike Pence and Justice Department officials leading up to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, are “subject to immunity.”
NBC said the court determined the contact as an official act.
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