US Supreme Court in Trump ruling declares ex-presidents have immunity for official acts

Donald Trump is the first former US president to be criminally prosecuted as well as the first former president convicted of a crime.

"At least with respect to the president's exercise of his core constitutional powers, this immunity must be absolute. As for his remaining official actions, he is also entitled to immunity," he added. "This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America ... no one is above the law, not even the president of the United States," he added, speaking hours after one of his campaign officials said the ruling makes it easier for Trump "to pursue a path to dictatorship".

The decision came in Trump's appeal of a lower court ruling rejecting his immunity claim. The court decided the case on the last day of its term. During April 25 arguments in the case, Trump's legal team urged the justices to fully shield former presidents from criminal charges — "absolute immunity" — for official acts taken in office. Without immunity, Trump's lawyer said, sitting presidents would face "blackmail and extortion" by political rivals due to the threat of future prosecution.

During the arguments, justices asked hypothetical questions involving a president selling nuclear secrets, taking a bribe or ordering a coup or political assassination. If such actions were official conduct, Trump's lawyer argued, a former president could be charged only if first impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted in the Senate — something that has never happened in US history.

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