East Texas lawmakers react to Supreme Court immunity ruling in Trump case
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Republicans and Democrats of East Texas are now speaking out after Monday’s Supreme Court decision involving former President Donald Trump’s immunity case.
Supreme Court rules Trump has some immunity
In a 6-3 ruling, SCOTUS said that former President Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for official acts while in office.
“Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.”
Chief Justice John Roberts
Republicans are calling Monday’s decision a win.
“Today’s supreme court ruling is a victory for our Constitution and the rule of law. With this decision, SCOTUS reaffirmed that our nation’s leaders should be protected from anyone who may seek to weaponize the judicial system against their political enemies,” Congressman Nathaniel Moran said.
Republican State Senator Bryan Hughes said the supreme court’s ruling was “exactly right” and explained what would qualify as official acts from a president.
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“For the president’s core constitutional duties, those things that the constitution says that the president must do,” Hughes said. “Appoint ambassadors, declare war, specific constitution things like that.”
SCOTUS ruled unofficial presidential acts would not be granted immunity.
“If you’re the president of the U.S., and you are driving a car, you run over someone on the weekend and you are out doing your own thing, that would be unofficial,” Hughes said. “Nothing to do with the presidency. You’ll be held liable for that.”
But Democrats believe the court’s ruling goes too far.
“Make no mistake: Trump is willing to do anything in his quest for revenge and retribution, and we know that he will put himself above our constitution, above American voters, and above democracy itself – and the Supreme Court just made it even easier for Donald Trump to pursue his path to a dictatorship,” the Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said.
Cody Grace, a Democrat running for Texas House District 6, said the decision gives presidents more power.
“Any sort of action a president performs is going to be immune from prosecution and I think that’s the wrong move,” Grace said.
The ruling now heads to the lower courts to decide the former president’s fate.
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