In light of the Supreme Court ruling that former presidents have immunity for official acts committed in office, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., raised concerns about potential abuse of power. She suggested that President Biden could theoretically use the military to eliminate conservative justices without facing legal consequences.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) has expressed concerns about the implications of the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, suggesting that President Biden could potentially use the military to "take out" conservative Supreme Court justices and be immune from punishment.
The Supreme Court's decision on Monday ruled that former presidents have substantial immunity from prosecution for official acts committed while in office. This ruling has raised concerns among Democrats, who believe it could have significant implications for former President Trump and his potential prosecution related to Jan. 6 and the 2020 election.
Biden Could "Take Out" Conservative Justices and Be Immune, Claims California Dem
Lofgren, while speaking on MSNBC, posited a hypothetical scenario in which President Biden could dispatch the military to target conservative justices on the court and be immune under the Supreme Court's ruling. She raised this theory in the context of discussing the concerns raised by liberal members of the court in their dissenting opinions.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissenting opinion, wrote that the ruling could allow presidents to commit serious crimes without facing criminal prosecution, including assassinating political rivals or taking bribes. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson also raised a hypothetical scenario in which the president could remove a cabinet member by poisoning them.
Biden Could "Take Out" Conservative Justices and Be Immune, Claims California Dem
However, constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley criticized those on the left for "misleading the public" about the ruling. He emphasized that there are checks and balances in place to prevent presidents from abusing their power, including impeachment, removal, federal courts, and other protections.
In response to criticism on social media, Lofgren clarified that she was not calling for violence against the justices or anyone else. She stated that she was merely offering a legal hypothetical in the context of a discussion about the broad immunity granted by the Supreme Court's ruling.
Biden Could "Take Out" Conservative Justices and Be Immune, Claims California Dem
She reiterated that she does not condone political violence or the abuse of power by any president.
The Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity has ignited a significant debate about the potential consequences for former and current presidents. Democrats have expressed concerns about the potential for abuse of power, while constitutional law experts have emphasized the checks and balances in place to prevent such abuses.
Biden Could "Take Out" Conservative Justices and Be Immune, Claims California Dem
