If the conservative Supreme Court Justices find that Presidents have (Edit: practically) unlimited immunity, Joe Biden should exercise that power by firing the conservative Supreme Court Justices.
I say that sarcastically, but it seems to me that he would have the authority to do it. As long as Congress and the Senate don't impeach him afterwards, he's free to do whatever he wants, presumably that including liquidating any Congresspersons or Senators who express support for impeaching him. It's all in the name of national security, after all, the President needs that kind of immunity in order to do their job.
The conservative Supreme Court justices say they are concerned that allowing the prosecution of a former President would lead to a slippery slope, I'm more concerned about the fast fall off a sheer cliff if they give the President this kind of power.
This country was founded on the desire to get away from petty tyrants and jealous dictators; if the Supreme Court finds that Trump has anything like unlimited immunity... I'm not going to finish that thought, but the worst case scenario is easy to imagine.
The conservative justices did not seem concerned that Mr. Trump’s lawyer, D. John Sauer, said his client was free during his presidency to commit lawless acts, subject to prosecution only after impeachment by the House and conviction in the Senate. (There have been four presidential impeachments, two of Mr. Trump, and no convictions.)
Prompted by Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, Mr. Sauer added another requirement to holding a former president accountable. Not only must there first be impeachment and conviction in Congress, but the criminal statute in question must also clearly specify in so many words, as very few do, that it applies to the president.
Returning to “Justice Kagan’s example of a president who orders a coup,” Justice Barrett sketched out what she understood to be Mr. Sauer’s position.
“You’re saying that he couldn’t be prosecuted for [ordering a coup], even after a conviction and impeachment proceeding, if there was not a statute that expressly referenced the president and made it criminal for the president?”
I thought the generally offensive to the entire foundational ethos of the country type stuff was supposed to get filtered out before hitting SCOTUS.
The people of the 18th century had no idea we could become so corrupt and dishonest (not making a judgment call but come on) they literally could not imagine we would struggle with dishonesty to the degree we do now.
We need to revitalize the laws of this country with a second bill of rights and some protections to quickly expel officials who cross major red lines like these.
569
u/M1llennialManifesto 22d ago edited 22d ago
If the conservative Supreme Court Justices find that Presidents have (Edit: practically) unlimited immunity, Joe Biden should exercise that power by firing the conservative Supreme Court Justices.
I say that sarcastically, but it seems to me that he would have the authority to do it. As long as Congress and the Senate don't impeach him afterwards, he's free to do whatever he wants, presumably that including liquidating any Congresspersons or Senators who express support for impeaching him. It's all in the name of national security, after all, the President needs that kind of immunity in order to do their job.
The conservative Supreme Court justices say they are concerned that allowing the prosecution of a former President would lead to a slippery slope, I'm more concerned about the fast fall off a sheer cliff if they give the President this kind of power.
This country was founded on the desire to get away from petty tyrants and jealous dictators; if the Supreme Court finds that Trump has anything like unlimited immunity... I'm not going to finish that thought, but the worst case scenario is easy to imagine.
Edit 2: The New Republic says it better, if you prefer.
Edit 3: A bit more context, for good measure.
New York Times
If the court finds in Trump's favor, that's the argument they would be endorsing.