"Supreme Court Rules Trump Has Partial Immunity from Prosecution"
In the courtroom, Chief Justice John Roberts presented a detailed and unemotional summary of the majority's opinion in the Trump case, addressing both the topic and the indictment against Donald Trump. Read More.....
"This marks the first instance this court has had to address the question of presidential immunity," he stated. "No president has faced criminal prosecution before."
The majority's decision, he explained, partly stems from the concern that the constant threat of prosecution could significantly impair a president's ability to perform their duties effectively. Roberts referred to this as "a danger to the executive."
"The risk of decision-making being skewed while in office is substantial," he said, before discussing the majority's effort to differentiate between "official" and "unofficial" conduct.
"Unofficial conduct does not receive immunity," he clarified. "However, making that distinction can be challenging."
This distinction, Roberts continued, has led him to question Trump's criminal liability for the events of January 6, 2021.
"Most of a president's public communications are likely to be considered part of his official responsibilities," he noted, although he added that the situation might differ if the president were "a candidate for office" at the time—which Trump was not.
The other justices showed little reaction to Roberts' remarks, with most remaining silent, either looking straight ahead or taking notes.
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