White House weighs options after ruling on immunity as Democrats react with outrage
The White House is considering its options for a response to the Supreme Court's blockbuster ruling on immunity that handed Donald Trump a major victory, as President Joe Biden warns that an amoral future president could abuse those powers.
WASHINGTON — The White House is considering its options for a response to the Supreme Court's blockbuster ruling on immunity that handed Donald Trump a major victory, as President Joe Biden warns that an amoral future president could abuse those powers.
“We are reviewing the decision and certainly will be exploring what could be done to address it to better safeguard democracy and the rule of law in the future, given this dangerous precedent,” White House spokesperson Ian Sams told NBC News.
Congressional Democrats reacted with outrage to the 6-3 decision, which fell along ideological lines. But when it comes to action, the party’s leaders have offered a scattered message and struggled to outline a clear vision for what to do next — legislatively or otherwise — prompting criticism from some liberal advocates.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., blasted the “disgraceful decision by the MAGA Supreme Court” but didn’t say whether he’d pursue any legislative action in response. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the court has decided presidents are legally “immune from abusing the levers of government to overturn an election or engage in other misconduct.”
“In ruling that Donald Trump is ‘absolutely immune from prosecution for the alleged conduct involving his discussions with Justice Department officials,’ the Court has stripped the Justice Department of its valued independence and undermined its commitment to the rule of law,” he said.
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