The former president’s “official conduct” is protected from prosecution, the justices said
The US Supreme Court ruled on Monday that American presidents have “absolute immunity” for their official actions, addressing a series of charges against former President Donald Trump.
Federal prosecutors have charged Trump with four criminal counts related to the 2020 presidential election, alleging that he “conspired” to overturn the results by spreading “knowingly false claims” of fraud to obstruct the collection, counting, and certification of the results.
“Our system of separated powers dictates that the nature of Presidential power grants a former President absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his constitutional authority,” the court stated in a 6-3 decision. “Furthermore, he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.”
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