# DC Court of Appeals rules against Trump Immunity, SCOTUS Makes a Different Decision **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [February 6, 2024, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188 "2024-02-06T15:22:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/401 "2024-07-02T22:16:52Z")
To remind people of the masterful evil that IS the MAGA party: At his Impeachment, we were told that this is “for the Courts to decide.” In Court, we are told that “this is a matter for Impeachment.” [You literally could not make this stuff up] They found the two vulnerabilities and more or less fortified them both. Even a cursory perusal of Project 2025 tells you that these people are orders of magnitude beyond the Democrats in terms of Organization, organization, machinery, mechanisms, troops, cohesion, choreography, dark money, and commitment. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/402 "2024-07-02T22:19:03Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Organization, organization, machinery, mechanisms, troops, cohesion, choreography, dark money, and commitment. And fear and surprise and ruthless efficiency. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/403 "2024-07-02T22:21:55Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Even a cursory perusal of Project 2025 tells you that these people are orders of magnitude beyond the Democrats in terms of Organization, organization, machinery, mechanisms, troops, cohesion, choreography, dark money, and commitment. Not too hard to do when all you have to do is focus on how to grab the most power and money. It’s not like they care about the future of the country or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/404 "2024-07-02T22:35:10Z")
[David Kurtz at TPM](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo/the-supreme-court-took-a-sledgehammer-to-american-democracy): Dahlia Lithwick, a relentless defender of the rule of law, [recognized](https://x.com/Dahlialithwick/status/1807913594748822007) yesterday’s seismic shift. “As an official representative of the legal commentariat I want to suggest that tonight’s a good news cycle to talk to the fascism and authoritarianism experts. This is their inning now …” Timothy Snyder: On Tyranny, 20 Lessons from the 20th Century, 2016 article length edition: > **[20 Lessons from the 20th Century on How to Survive in Trump’s America](https://inthesetimes.com/article/20-lessons-from-the-20th-century-on-how-to-survive-in-trumps-america)** > > A history professor looks to the past to remind us to do what we can in the face of the unthinkable. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/405 "2024-07-03T06:44:49Z")
A bit of levity from Andy Borowitz, and Lord knows, we need levity right now … > **[Biden Uses Sweeping Immunity to Replace Supreme Court Republicans with Jill,...](https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/biden-uses-sweeping-immunity-to-replace)** > > In a farewell message to the ex-justices, Biden thanked them for giving him virtually unlimited power. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/406 "2024-07-03T19:32:33Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > This disaster could not have come at a worse time, with Trump likely about to be re-elected. No one would abuse the protections of immunity more than Trump will. For those wondering how he would execute his plan of revenge against his perceived enemies – judges, prosecutors, witnesses, perceived political enemies – wonder no more. He’ll now be able to do it the same way as other tyrants have done it throughout history, with the blessing and protection of SCOTUS – arrest them all on completely fabricated charges. And that’s just the beginning. What he’ll do in advance of the 2028 election is anybody’s guess. Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump—who has pledged to be a dictator on “day one” if elected to another four years in the White House—is reportedly preparing to exploit the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling Monday that current and former presidents are entitled to sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution. Citing unnamed advisers to the former president, Axios reported Tuesday that if Trump is reelected in November, he “plans to immediately test the boundaries of presidential and governing power, knowing the restraints of Congress and the courts are dramatically looser than during his first term.” > **['Screaming the quiet part': Trump advisers say he's ready to embrace...](https://www.rawstory.com/screaming-the-quiet-part-trump-advisers-say-he-s-ready-to-embrace-king-like-powers/)** > > Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump—who has pledged to be a dictator on "day one" if elected to another four years in the White House—is reportedly preparing to exploit the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling Monday that current and former presidents... ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/407 "2024-07-03T22:04:12Z")
> [@Jay\_Z](#): > > I guess the silver lining is anything that happens won’t be because Trump never actually does anything. If Trump was more of an evil mastermind, more lawful evil than chaotic evil, he would actually deliver on shit. That was then. This is now. In the last four years, the Heritage Foundation and their ilk have made Trump into their useful idiot in their power grab. They have harnessed his world-class con man skills to bring about their own fascist agenda (Project 2025). He is incapable, of course, of realizing this because they have learned exactly how to manipulate him and he can’t even conceive that anyone could do that to _him_. He will be kept out of their way by rallies with his adoring fans, “executive time” and fawning media fed to him. Already he has someone whose only job is to follow him around printing favorable articles to soothe him. They know how to make him feel “presidential” by assuring him that their ideas are his own and he is the smartest, wisest man who ever lived. Anyone who thinks that Trump will stumble through another term will be in for a rude awakening. Well, yeah, he will stumble (just Trump being Trump) but those surrounding him this time most certainly will not. > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Even a cursory perusal of Project 2025 tells you that these people are orders of magnitude beyond the Democrats in terms of Organization, organization, machinery, mechanisms, troops, cohesion, choreography, dark money, and commitment. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > And fear and surprise and ruthless efficiency. The reason the GOP is now and will then get away with all of it is that it’s human nature to believe that if someone is doing evil, they will hide it. People think it can’t be so bad if they are being upfront about it. And the GOPers are doing things right out in the open for anyone to see. “Screaming the quiet part out loud” indeed. It may be too late for the majority of this country to wake up to that. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/408 "2024-07-03T23:54:39Z")
Regarding the President acting as Commander-in-Chief: where’s the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which was established by Congress in this? Yes, a president apparently could issue an order to assassinate someone; but even if the president couldn’t be prosecuted for issuing the order, couldn’t anyone who obeyed it be prosecuted? Or more likely, if they refused they couldn’t be punished for refusing? ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/409 "2024-07-04T00:01:00Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Yes, a president apparently could issue an order to assassinate someone; but even if the president couldn’t be prosecuted for issuing the order, couldn’t anyone who obeyed it be prosecuted? That someone could be prosecuted. Unless they were pardoned. > [@Lumpy](#): > > Or more likely, if they refused they couldn’t be punished for refusing? Perhaps, but they might get transferred to security duty walking the fence at Elmendorf Air Force Base. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/410 "2024-07-04T00:41:16Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > If – God forbid – Trump retakes the White House and implements Project 2025, his supporters will have done everything they can for Donald Trump. They will no longer be of use to him. > > What do they think happens then. The Night Of The Long Knives ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/411 "2024-07-04T01:03:54Z")
The last 4 minutes of Glenn Kirchner sums up “we’re screwed”. The whole thing is worth a watch. [https://youtu.be/JyxOlOicXJE?t=715](https://youtu.be/JyxOlOicXJE?t=715) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/412 "2024-07-04T13:53:47Z")
Noted patriot and sports enthusiast Jim Jordan wants us to follow the ruling. What’s the opposite of an appeal to Authority? > **[Election denier Jim Jordan calls on Democrats to 'uphold democratic norms'](https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/jim-jordan-immunity-trump-supreme-court-ruling-rcna160210)** > > The Ohio Republican, who helped peddle lies about the 2020 election, cheered the Supreme Court ruling on Trump's immunity. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/413 "2024-07-04T14:17:35Z")
Rhetorical question: what if **[Newt Gingrich](https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/3609952-did-newt-gingrich-wreck-american-politics/)**, **[Leonard Leo](https://www.propublica.org/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-leo-supreme-court-supermajority)**, and **[Roger Ailes](https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2011/memo-from-1970-a-plan-for-putting-the-gop-on-tv-news/)** had never been born. One declared partisan war. One gave us the Judicial “**[Boys From Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boys_from_Brazil_(film))**.” One gave us State Media. Without which … very little of the worst of what we see in today’s politics would likely be possible. Things like this SCOTUS decision, f’rinstance. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/414 "2024-07-04T14:27:17Z")
They were the first, but if not them it would have been someone. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/415 "2024-07-04T14:56:16Z")
Something to think about… [![](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/851/828/c70.png) ](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/851/828/c70.png) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/416 "2024-07-05T02:33:28Z")
Legal Eagle’s latest video addresses the ruling. Short version: It’s worse than you think. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MXQ43yyJvgs/maxresdefault.jpg "Trump Is Immune") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXQ43yyJvgs) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/417 "2024-07-05T04:29:59Z")
Okay, just so I’ve got this right, fill in the blanks below: **Before the ruling** , the current president is considering assassinating political opponents. The immediate consequences he has to consider are \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and, when and if he leaves office, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. **After the ruling** , the current president is considering assassinating political opponents. The immediate consequences he has to consider are \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and, when and if he leaves office, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/418 "2024-07-05T04:52:13Z")
**Before the ruling** , the current president is considering assassinating political opponents. The immediate consequences he has to consider are **impeachment** and, when and if he leaves office, **prosecution**. **After the ruling** , the current president is considering assassinating political opponents. The immediate consequences he has to consider are **nothing, because if the president does it it’s not illegal** and, when and if he leaves office, **nothing, because if the president does it it’s not illegal**. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/419 "2024-07-05T05:18:47Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > **After the ruling** , the current president is considering assassinating political opponents. The immediate consequences he has to consider are **nothing, because if the president does it it’s not illegal** and, when and if he leaves office, **nothing, because if the president does it it’s not illegal**. Wrong- The President can always be impeached. And Wrong again, as that is not an Official Duty. Doesnt anyone actually read these decisions? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188/420 "2024-07-05T06:15:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And Wrong again, as that is not an Official Duty. As Legal Eagle points out, commanding the military is an official duty of the president, therefore dispatching Seal Team Six to assassinate your opponents is immunized and no court can question it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-court-of-appeals-rules-against-trump-immunity-scotus-makes-a-different-decision/997188.md?page=22)