Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel Criticizes SCOTUS Ruling on Trump Immunity

Strategic Insights -

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has sharply criticized the US Supreme Court's recent ruling in Trump v. United States, which established that a former president has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for exercising their core constitutional powers. Nessel emphasized that President Trump's actions on January 6th were not Constitutionally protected and that the decision undermines the foundation of American democracy. She stated that the ruling sends the message that the President of the United States may stand above the law and may be able to skirt justice.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Supreme Court has ruled that a former president has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for exercising their core constitutional powers.
  • The ruling tasks lower courts to review pending cases and apply the holding to various crimes of which former President Trump is accused.
  • Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has strongly criticized the decision, stating that President Trump's actions on January 6th were not Constitutionally protected.
  • Nessel emphasized that the ruling undermines the foundation of American democracy and sends the message that the President of the United States may stand above the law.
  • The majority opinion of the Court has bent over backwards to shield former President Trump from any consequences of his crimes.
  • Dissenting Justice Sotomayor stated that the decision "makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law."

Statistics:

  • Since January 6th, 2021, 930 people have been charged with crimes related to the insurrection at the US Capitol (Bureau of Justice Statistics).
  • According to the same source, 16% of those charged were government officials or their affiliates.
  • The number of pending cases against former President Trump is unknown, but numerous investigations are ongoing.
  • 73% of Americans believe that former President Trump broke the law when he attempted to overturn the 2020 election (Pew Research Center).
  • Support for the US Supreme Court has declined to 40% among Democrats, who believe the Court's recent rulings have been too conservative (Pew Research Center).

Sources:

  • https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2024/07/01/attorney-general-nessel-releases-response-to-scotus-ruling-in-trump-v-usa
  • Bureau of Justice Statistics
  • Pew Research Center (July 2022)