A legal analyst has suggested that former President Donald Trump could potentially accept money for pardoning January 6 Capitol rioters, citing the Supreme Court's recent ruling on presidential immunity.
According to Newsweek, Melissa Murray, a New York University law professor and MSNBC contributor, made this claim during an appearance on MSNBC's "The Weekend" program.
The Supreme Court's decision, issued on July 1, 2024, stated that former presidents have immunity for official acts conducted while in office but not for unofficial acts.
This ruling was related to Trump's argument in the federal election interference case against him, where he claimed immunity from prosecution due to being in office when the alleged scheme took place.
Murray explained that the Supreme Court's immunity decision from July is so sweeping that it may allow a president to issue pardons and potentially accept money for doing so. She argued that this would be permissible because the Court has granted immunity for official acts, and the pardon power is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
The legal expert emphasized the broad authority that Trump now has due to the Supreme Court, which he helped shape by appointing three conservative justices during his presidency. This resulted in a 6-3 conservative majority on the Court.
Murray expressed concern about the implications of this ruling, stating:
The Supreme Court is not coming to save us. We have to save ourselves. Authoritarianism is literally on the doorstep.
The discussion about pardons comes in the context of Trump's repeated promises to pardon individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot if he is reelected in November. Over 1,488 people were charged with alleged actions on that day.
During a recent campaign rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin, Trump reiterated his intention to pardon what he refers to as "political prisoners." He stated that he would review their cases and sign pardons on his first day in office if elected.
Trump's legal situation remains complex, with the Department of Justice accusing him of attempting to overturn President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. The former president has pleaded not guilty to all four felony charges against him, maintaining that the case is politically motivated.
The charges stem from Trump's repeated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election despite the lack of evidence to support these allegations. The situation culminated in the January 6 Capitol riot, where Trump supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of Biden's victory.
The Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity has opened up new discussions about the extent of executive powers. Legal experts like Melissa Murray suggest that this decision could allow former presidents, including Donald Trump, to accept money for pardons without legal consequences.
This interpretation, if accurate, may have significant implications for the balance of power in the U.S. government and the use of presidential pardons in the future. The ongoing legal challenges faced by Trump and his promises to pardon the January 6 rioters continue to be central issues in the political landscape.
