this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2024
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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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[–] savvywolf@pawb.social 0 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I'm not American and so am not in touch with American politics, but I have an American friend who doesn't seem to be bothered by it. I assume he knows better than me, so I'm trying not to worry about it.

But if I were to worry about it, I can see the whole Trump situation leading to another civil war for you guys...

[–] Maeve@sh.itjust.works -1 points 11 months ago

You're not misunderstanding, but calm down, anyway.

[–] InternetUser2012@midwest.social -3 points 11 months ago

I am concerned if a replikkklown ever gets elected to presidency before we can have the tRump appointed judges either executed or removed from office and fix this dumbass shit.

[–] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee -3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Despite the alarm, it's nothing new though. International diplomats cite immunity to prosecution to get out of paying for speeding tickets on a daily basis.

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[–] Manmoth@lemmy.ml -3 points 11 months ago (10 children)

I don't know why people care. Obama dronestriked an American citizen and nothing happened. Snowden revealed that we are all under mass surveillance and nothing happened. Biden withheld funds from Ukraine to halt an investigation into his son and nothing happened. This ruling just reflects reality.

[–] WanderingVentra@lemm.ee 0 points 11 months ago

Wtf is that third thing? Are you confusing it with the thing Trump did, refusing to give them funds until they make up dirt on Biden? Because what you said was weird and untrue. The first two things were.

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[–] Crowfiend@lemmy.world -4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Lol imagine being so late to the discussion that it's already over, and your thoughts are little more than hindsight, that your newborn child is an unforseen consequence

Edit; incumbent idiots don't make the rest of us responsible for their mistakes. They fucking on they own, fucking simpasses.

[–] Akuden@lemmy.world -4 points 11 months ago (9 children)

A president can't claim immunity. The president has always had immunity for acts that the constitution provides the office.

The president has inferred immunity for powers shared with Congress.

The president enjoys no immunity for acts as a private citizen.

These are important distinctions.

You or I cannot bomb another country. The president can.

You or I cannot kill a maid. The president cannot.

Only acts used with the power of the office are immune. You can't use presidential authority to sexually harass your staff. That's against the law.

The ruling didn't change anything, nor was anything given. SCOTUS doesn't create the law. We don't have a magical genie godking president all of a sudden.

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