The Supreme Court Just Made the Prospects of a Second Trump Term Even Scarier Than Before

News7f July 2, 2024

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The Supreme Court Just Made the Prospects of a Second Trump Term Even Scarier Than Before

Since he left office in 2021—just two weeks after he inspired a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol—the idea of a second term has been Donald Trump has been a full scary prospect. Not only because of his response after losing the 2020 election to incite a bloodthirsty mob into Congress, but also because of his vow to use the government to prosecute your enemieshis plan for mass deportation and detention campsthe way he coldly talks about reproductive rightshis disturbing feelings because Vladimir Putin, and his intend to shoot thousands of civil servants who actually know what they are doing and replace them with people whose chief quality is undying loyalty—among many other qualities.

But on Monday, the Supreme Court’s conservatives turned what was once a terrifying prospect into a truly chilling nightmare.

In his Monday ruling Agree With Trump’s claim of “absolute immunity,” the Court’s six conservatives have effectively destroyed the federal election-sabotage case against Trump, which at best will go after November, and at worst will be thrown into the rubble of justice. Even more alarming, they have essentially given Trump the green light to break any law he wants in a second term by saying that presidents are immune from “criminal prosecution for acts” that fall within their “official” duties. If that strikes you as a terrible precedent to set, and one that could easily be exploited, you’re not the only one.

This is what Justice is Sonia Sotomayor Written in disagreement:

Today’s decision granting immunity to former Presidents reshapes the institution of the presidency. It makes a mockery of the principle, the bedrock of our Constitution and our system of government, that no one is above the law. Relying solely on its own misguided wisdom about the need for the President to “act boldly and without hesitation”… the Court grants former President Trump all the immunity he has requested and more.

The President of the United States is the most powerful person in this country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, by popular logic, he is now protected from criminal prosecution. Order Navy SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political opponent? Immunity. Organize a military coup to seize power? Immunity. Accept bribes in exchange for a pardon? Immunity. Immunity, immunity, immunity…. Even if these nightmare scenarios never come to pass, and I pray they never do, the damage has been done. The relationship between the President and the people he serves has been irrevocably altered. In every use of his official powers, the President is now a monarch above the law.

Sotomayor concluded her dissent by noting that she was “fearful[ful] for our democracy,” and given the above scenarios—which Trump could do in a second term!—you can probably understand why.

Hillary Clinton is also concerned about SCOTUS approval of a range of potential future crimes by Trump