“(With) today’s Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, that fundamentally changed. For all practical purposes, there are virtually no limits on what the president can do. It’s a fundamentally new principle and it’s a dangerous precedent because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law even including the supreme court of the United States.”

Throughout his address, Biden underscored the gravity of the moment, emphasizing that the only barrier to the president’s authority now lies in the personal restraint of the officeholder. He warned vehemently against the prospect of Trump returning to power, painting a stark picture of the dangers such an outcome could pose.

  • @Madison420@lemmy.world
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    175 months ago

    Legally … but the law doesn’t apply to the president so long as they’re doing it for a reason they believe to be official.

    • @trafficnab@lemmy.ca
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      25 months ago

      The ruling more or less explicitly states that Biden could go on national television, say “Won’t someone rid me of these troublesome justices?”, have them assassinated, and face no legal repercussions because using the bully pulpit is covered by presidential immunity

      • @Madison420@lemmy.world
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        25 months ago

        Farther. He could use the military or any branch of government to kill them and still get immunity. We now have a long, don’t get me wrong we always had some assumption that that’s how it went but seeing it on paper is an eye opener.

        Hell, he could sign literally every US asset over to anyone he pleases and there’s nothing we could do via a legal means. It’s not supposed to work that way but if no law constrains the office then the office is simply free to do literally whatever they want.

    • @Akuden@lemmy.world
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      -15 months ago

      The law applies to the president always.

      Here is what this ruling is for -

      First - if I order an enemy of the US dead I can be prosecuted.

      The president orders an enemy dead. That enemy is killed. The president cannot be prosecuted for that act.

      What this ruling does - the president may also not be prosecuted for that act after they leave office.

      That’s all this does. That’s it. If the president kills a maid in the White House he or she will go to prison because that is against the law and not within the duties of the office.

      • @Madison420@lemmy.world
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        15 months ago

        It doesnt.

        Nope.

        Agreed.

        No or means they can’t be prosecuted for it ever so long as it was under the guise of an official act.

        Nope, that maid was a spy and deserved what she got.