White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany appeared to argue that Donald Trump has “absolute immunity” from the law as president even though the Supreme Court made it clear today that no president is above the law.
In a 7-2 ruling that saw both of Trump’s appointees side with the majority, the high court handed a victory to Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, who now gets access to Trump’s long-hidden tax records as part of a criminal investigation by the state of New York.
Chief Justice John Roberts specifically stated in the decision that the president is not above the law.
“We reaffirm that principle today and hold that the President is neither absolutely immune from state criminal subpoenas seeking his private papers nor entitled to a heightened standard of need,” Roberts wrote.
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That’s indisputably clear, yet McEnany repeatedly cited Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to argue the opposite — even though they were the dissenting minority opinion.
“The president was making a general point about deference and on the principle of absolute immunity,” McEnany said in reference to Trump’s Twitter tantrum over the ruling. “He believes there should have been more deference.”
The Supreme Court is not obligated to be loyal to the executive branch, regardless of who is president. The Court interprets the law and makes a ruling based on precedent and the Constitution. It sounds as if Trump really believed the Court would do his bidding regardless.
CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins challenged McEnany.
“On the ruling today, the Supreme Court is rejecting this assertion from the president that he is immune to investigation while in office,” Collins said. “Does he agree that he is not immune?”
Of course, Trump doesn’t agree.
“He still maintains his initial position,” McEnany responded. “He takes issue with the point that the majority made on absolute immunity but, nevertheless, I would underscore the victory here.”
Again, Trump LOST this case 7-2. He did not get a win here. The Court ruled that Trump has to turn over his records to Vance, so at least that’s how Vance sees the ruling.
Yet another reporter pressed McEnany.
“If the president still believes he has absolute immunity, it makes it sound as though he thinks he’s above the law while he is president of the United States, at least,” the reporter said.
“It’s almost as if folks don’t understand a legal term,” McEnany whined. “Absolute immunity is a legal term of art.”
Here’s the video:
A “legal term of art”? That’s complete bullsh*t, and makes one wonder how McEnany ever made it through Harvard Law School.
The fact is that no president is above the law. The Supreme Court made it clear that Trump does not have absolute immunity and that means he can be held accountable. And so can McEnany.
Featured image via Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore
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