Biden says SCOTUS decision sets 'dangerous precedent'

Trump called the ruling a "big win for our constitution and democracy."

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected Donald Trump's sweeping claim of "absolute" immunity from criminal prosecution in his federal election subversion case, but said former presidents are entitled to some protections for "official" acts taken while in the White House.

The ruling affects whether Trump faces a federal trial this year on four felony counts brought by special counsel Jack Smith, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruction of an official proceeding, for his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. Trump pleaded not guilty and has denied any wrongdoing.

The justices are sending the case back to the trial court to determine what acts alleged in Smith's indictment constitute official duties that could be protected from liability and which are not.


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Trump fundraises off immunity ruling

Former President Donald Trump's campaign sent out an email fundraising off the Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity.

"BREAKING FROM TRUMP: Supreme Court gives TOTAL IMMUNITY for official acts!" Trump campaign's fundraising email said.

"Official acts cannot be illegally prosecuted - BIG WIN FOR DEMOCRACY &; OUR CONSTITUTION!" the fundraising email continues, calling the case a "witch hunt" and saying it "should've never happened."

-ABC News' Soorin Kim


Jackson argues ruling 'breaks new and dangerous ground'

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a dissent in the Supreme Court's presidential immunity ruling arguing it "breaks new and dangerous ground."

"So, how does this new Presidential accountability model work? An initial problem is the lack of clarity regarding what this new model entails," she wrote.

Jackson added that the ruling "unilaterally altered the balance of power between the three coordinate branches of our Government as it relates to the Rule of Law, aggrandizing power in the Judiciary and the Executive, to the detriment of Congress."

Jackson and Justice Sonia Sotomayor both penned dissents. Justice Elena Kagan joined Sotomayor in her dissent.

The split 6-3 opinion was authored by Chief Justice John Roberts.


'It makes a mockery of the principle ... that no man is above the law,' Sotomayor says in dissent

In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor pushed back against the conservative justices' ruling on former President Donald Trump's immunity case.

Sotomayor contended in her dissent that the ruling "makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law."

She argued the conservative justices invented "an atextual, ahistorical, and unjustifiable immunity that puts the President above the law."

"That holding, which will prevent the Government from using a President's official acts to prove knowledge or intent in prosecuting private offenses, is nonsensical. Argument by argument, the majority invents immunity through brute force," she added.

Sotomayor also said the ruling opens up the possibility that when a president uses their official powers in any way, they will be "insulated from criminal prosecution."

"Orders the Navy's Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune," Sotomayor wrote.

Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined Sotomayor in her dissent.

The split 6-3 opinion was authored by Chief Justice John Roberts.


Special counsel Jack Smith declines to comment

Special counsel Jack Smith's office declined to comment on the Supreme Court ruling, a spokesperson told ABC News.

The court's ruling will affect whether former President Donald Trump faces a federal trial this year on four felony counts brought by Smith, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruction of an official proceeding, for his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden.

-ABC News' Alexander Mallin


'There are no kings in America': Biden reacts to SCOTUS ruling on immunity

President Joe Biden addressed the Supreme Court's historic decision on presidential immunity Monday, saying the ruling "fundamentally changed" the limits to America's highest office.

"This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America," Biden said.

"Each of us is equal before the law," he continued. "No one is above the law, not even the president of the United States."

"Today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do," Biden said.

Addressing the charges Trump faces for actions taken to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Biden said, "The public has a right to know the answer about what happened on Jan. 6 before they are asked to vote again this year."

Ahead of the November election, Biden said the American people have to decide if they want to "entrust" the presidency once again to Donald Trump, "now knowing he'll be even more emboldened to do whatever he pleases, whenever he wants to do it."