Laurence Tribe — a legal expert associated with Harvard University — is predicting that the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted presidents a layer of legal immunity for some actions taken in office will eventually be overturned.
The protections were issued at Donald Trump’s urging as he challenged a criminal case that accused him of conspiring against the 2020 presidential election outcome, meaning Biden’s win that year. Trump wanted protection from criminal prosecution for actions taken as part of his official responsibilities, and that’s where he grouped — at least publicly — what he was doing after that election. Now, there will be additional proceedings at a lower level in the federal judiciary on whether conduct alleged of Trump falls within the new protections. That translates to even more delay before any trial.
“Trump v. United States will be overruled someday,” Tribe posted to X, formerly called Twitter. “I agree with @rbhubbell that it’s “destined to be remembered as a mark of shame for the Roberts Court just as Dred Scott tarnishes Chief Justice Taney’s legacy to this day.” Hasten the day by voting against this Court in November.”
Hillary Clinton — who, of course, ran against Trump unsuccessfully in the general election in 2016 — had a similar response this week.
“I agree with Justice Sotomayor about the immunity ruling from the MAGA wing of the Supreme Court: “With fear for our democracy, I dissent,”” Clinton posted on the same platform. “It will be up to the American people this November to hold Donald Trump accountable.”
There are new, related delays in the criminal case against Trump in New York City where a jury recently convicted him on all counts after prosecutors alleged the felony falsification of business records related to pre-2016 election hush money. As the Trump team tries to use the immunity ruling to undercut this separate case, the judge has delayed sentencing — originally happening in July — to September.
