Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Trump To Enjoy Immunity From Criminal Trial, US S'Court Rules

POSTED ON July 2, 2024 •   Politics      BY Benedicta Bassey •   VIEWS 137
Former US President, Donald Trump/ Photo credit: CNN

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that Donald Trump will have some immunity from prosecution as a former President.

The ruling will likely delay his trial for conspiring to overturn the 2020 elections.

AFP reported that the 6-3 decision split along ideological lines comes four months ahead of the presidential election in which Trump is the Republican candidate to take on Democrat Joe Biden.

The historic case was the last heard during the court’s current term and had far-reaching implications for executive power and the White House race.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority opinion, said a president was “not above the law” but did have “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution for official acts taken while in office.

“The president therefore may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled, at a minimum, to a presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts,” Roberts said.

“As for a President’s unofficial acts, there is no immunity,” the chief justice added, sending the case back to a lower court to determine which of the charges facing the former president involves official or unofficial conduct.

A US District Court will now hold what is expected to be a series of lengthy pre-trial hearings, making a trial before the November election extremely unlikely.

Trump is charged with conspiracy to defraud the US as well as conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of an official proceeding – the January 6, 2021 joint session of Congress held to certify Biden’s victory.

He is also charged with conspiracy to deny Americans the right to vote and to have their votes counted.

The three liberal justices dissented, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor saying she was doing so “with fear for our democracy.”

“Never in the history of our Republic has a President had reason to believe that he would be immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate the criminal law,”

Sotomayor said, “In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.”

“Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organises a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune,” she said.

AFP reports that the 78-year-old Trump, in a post on Truth Social, welcomed the ruling, calling it a “big win for our Constitution and democracy.”

Biden’s reelection campaign team countered that Trump “thinks he’s above the law and is willing to do anything to gain and hold onto power for himself.”

“Donald Trump snapped after he lost the 2020 election and encouraged a mob to overthrow the results,” the Biden campaign said in a reference to the storming of the US Capitol by Trump supporters.

Facing four criminal cases, Trump has been doing everything in his power to delay the trials at least until after the election.

On May 30, a New York jury convicted Trump on felony charges of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal in the final stages of the 2016 presidential campaign, making Trump the first former US president ever convicted of a crime.

His sentencing will take place on July 11.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Economic Showdown: Atiku's Critique vs. Tinubu's Policies A Leadership Divide
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 4, 2024 0

In a recent exchange highlighting the growing tensions in Nigeria's political landscape, former Vice...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Senate confirms seven ministerial nominees
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

The Senate has screened and confirmed seven ministerial nominees appointed by President Bola Ahmed T...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
US poll: Court orders Elon Musk to defend $1m election giveaway
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

Elon Musk has been ordered to appear in court on Thursday following a lawsuit concerning $1 million...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Reps summons Environment Ministry, others over flood readiness
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

The House of Representatives on Thursday summoned the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
National security: Reps urge FG to withdraw airstrip licences from Canaanland, others
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

The House of Representatives on Thursday has urged the Federal Government to withdraw airstrip licen...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
UK naval vessel arrives Nigeria to boost regional maritime security
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

The United Kingdom Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Lyme Bay, has arrived Nigeria as part of effort...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Why U.S. election is important to global audience — UNILAG VC Ogunshola
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

As the United States' election draws near, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG),...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Ondo guber: PDP, APC engage in battle of words over electoral violence
BY Benedicta Bassey October 31, 2024 0

The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has called for more interventions ahead of th...

OUR CHANNELS:

OTHER ARTICLES ::

5th November, 2024
Economic Showdown: Atiku's Critique vs. Tinubu's Policies A Leadership Divide
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 5, 2024 0

In a recent exchange highlighting the growing tensions in Nigeria's political landscape, former Vice...


Indianapolis Woman Dies in I-65 Accident Near Columbus After Return from Kentucky Event
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 5, 2024 0

COLUMBUS, Ind. — A tragic accident claimed the life of Indianapolis resident Omotope G. Oyedir...


Adriano's Decline: From Football Glory to Favela Streets
BY ROCKETPARROT.com staff November 5, 2024 0

Health concerns arise as a recent video surfaces showing Adriano, the former Inter Milan and Brazil...


Proposed tax reform bills not against North, says Presidency
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 5, 2024 0

The Presidency has said contrary to job loss fears and perceived marginalisation of the North, the t...


Kaduna approves N72,000 minimum wage
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 5, 2024 0

The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved a new minimum wage of N72,000 for civil servants i...


Man Utd seal deal with Amorim as new manager — Report
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 5, 2024 0

Manchester United has finalised an agreement with Sporting Lisbon to appoint 39-year-old Ruben Amori...


Nile Group collaborates with Ooni of Ife to manage his theaters
BY Ebiakuboere England November 5, 2024 0

His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, and Nile Cinemas have inked a historic management contract fo...


Bruno Mars tops Spotify monthly listeners record
BY Ebiakuboere England November 5, 2024 0

Grammy-winning singer Bruno Mars has broken the previous record with 120,862,858 monthly Spotify lis...


South Africa to strip Chidimma Adetshina of ID documents
BY Ebiakuboere England November 5, 2024 0

Nigerian-South African Model Chidimma Adetshina faces the possibility of losing her national documen...


Senate confirms seven ministerial nominees
BY Benedicta Bassey November 5, 2024 0

The Senate has screened and confirmed seven ministerial nominees appointed by President Bola Ahmed T...


Menu