WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden called The decision of the Supreme Court Monday provides some immunity Donald Trump “a terrible service to the people of this nation” in his criminal election interference case.
“This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each and every one of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law, not even the President of the United States. [With] Today’s decision by the Supreme Court on presidential immunity has, for all practical purposes, fundamentally changed that,” Biden said.
Biden said the ruling “puts virtually no limits on what the president can do,” echoing dissents written by liberal justices on the court.
“I beg to differ,” Biden said as he concluded his brief remarks from the White House.
Given the nature of the decision, the immunity described in Trump’s case applies to Biden and other future occupants of the Oval Office.
“The presidency is the most powerful office in the world. It’s an office that not only tests your judgment; perhaps more importantly, it’s an office that tests your character. Because you not only face moments when you need courage, but also the full power of the presidency,” Biden said. “You also have moments when you need the wisdom to respect the limits of the authority of the office of the president.”
Biden also said that a decision will be made To delay the commencement of the trial of the suit before the electionThis, he said, would deny voters a solution to the charges against Trump.
“The American people deserve answers in the courts before the upcoming election,” Biden said. “The public has a right to know the answer to what happened on January 6 before they demand a repeat vote this year.”
Biden described the absence of a trial as a transition from the courts to the voting booth.
“The American people must decide whether Donald Trump’s attack on our democracy on January 6th makes him unfit for the highest office in the land. The American people must decide whether it is acceptable for Trump to resort to violence to protect his power,” Biden said.
“Perhaps most importantly, the American people must decide whether or not they want to hand over the presidency to Donald Trump, now that they know he will be more emboldened to do whatever he wants,” Biden added.
In a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, the court rejected Trump’s claim of broad immunity, but said some of his actions closely related to his constitutional duties as president were off limits to prosecutors. The court instructed the lower court to determine which of his actions qualified for immunity and which did not.
Special prosecutor Jack Smith has charged Trump with trying to overturn the 2020 election. He pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing.
Biden took no questions from members of the media gathered at the White House, including those clamoring to ask if he would withdraw from the presidential race.
After his disappointing debate performance, Biden faced calls from within his own party to step aside and let the party pick another candidate who might be better positioned to challenge Trump. Biden has so far resisted those calls.