Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Ruling In Donald Trump Immunity Case

Statement

No one should be above the law, not even a sitting United States President. And yet today’s ultra-conservative Supreme Court majority ruled that not just Donald Trump, but future presidents, may be immune from abusing the levers of government to overturn an election or engage in other misconduct.

Importantly, today’s ruling also undermines longstanding policies that protect DOJ’s investigations and prosecutions from partisan political interference. In ruling that Donald Trump is ‘absolutely immune from prosecution for the alleged conduct involving his discussions with Justice Department officials,’ the Court has stripped the Justice Department of its valued independence and undermined its commitment to the rule of law.

Relatedly, it is disgraceful that Justices Thomas and Alito brazenly refused to recuse themselves from this case. As I’ve said before, the appearance of impropriety or partiality require recusal. Until Chief Justice Roberts uses his existing authority to enact an enforceable code of conduct, I will continue to push to pass the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act.

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