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Is anyone else highly concerned with the SCOTUS ruling that the POTUS is immune from criminal liability? (lemmy.autism.place)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Sorry if this is not the proper community for this question. Please let me know if I should post this question elsewhere.

So like, I'm not trying to be hyperbolic or jump on some conspiracy theory crap, but this seems like very troubling news to me. My entire life, I've been under the impression that no one is technically/officially above the law in the US, especially the president. I thought that was a hard consensus among Americans regardless of party. Now, SCOTUS just made the POTUS immune to criminal liability.

The president can personally violate any law without legal consequences. They also already have the ability to pardon anyone else for federal violations. The POTUS can literally threaten anyone now. They can assassinate anyone. They can order anyone to assassinate anyone, then pardon them. It may even grant complete immunity from state laws because if anyone tries to hold the POTUS accountable, then they can be assassinated too. This is some Putin-level dictator stuff.

I feel like this is unbelievable and acknowledge that I may be wayyy off. Am I misunderstanding something?? Do I need to calm down?

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[–] [email protected] 59 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Yes, it scares the shit out of me. Even if we manage to never elect Trump before he dies, the next time any Republican makes it to the presidency, the American Experiment is over.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I think it's silly to assume that this can't and won't be abused by Democrats as well, given time. The worst thing we could do in this situation is make it partisan.

No president should have this power.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Not to defend the democrats too much but even if they do it, the SCOTUS is heavily biased against them which means that they would get heavily punished.

Also at the least the liberal wing of the SCOTUS voted against this, unlike the republican appointed judges.

So there’s clearly one side pushing for this and one trying to prevent it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

It could be abused by Democrats as well. If we get to that point, all hope is lost anyway.