Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana criticized the Biden administration for aggressively seeking a speedy Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity and then facing the consequences. The Supreme Court’s decisive 6-3 ruling, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, upheld the principle that presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution for official acts carried out during their time in office. Senator Kennedy, in his characteristic style, labeled the outcome as “predictable” and highlighted the Justice Department’s role in pushing for the opinion.
Kennedy pointed out that the Justice Department’s overreach in requesting the ruling ultimately backfired, as the Court’s decision reaffirmed the legal boundaries around prosecuting a sitting president. He emphasized the distinction between prosecuting a president for official versus personal acts, indicating that only the latter could be subject to criminal charges. The senator also took the opportunity to express concerns about President Biden’s mental acuity, drawing attention to perceived verbal lapses and cognitive challenges displayed during public appearances.
John Kennedy Says Justice Department 'Got It Good And Hard' In SCOTUS Immunity Decision pic.twitter.com/hsxK3UJgnm
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 1, 2024
In Senator Kennedy’s view, the Supreme Court’s ruling was a clear message that it would not be swayed by political motivations. He suggested that the case was orchestrated to aid President Biden but ended up being a neutral decision by the Court, distancing itself from partisan influences. Kennedy highlighted what he saw as the current administration’s misplaced priorities, citing issues like gas stoves and gender terminology receiving more attention than pressing national concerns like inflation, crime, and border security.
Overall, Kennedy portrayed the Court’s ruling as a rebuke to political maneuvering, asserting that the justices upheld the principle of presidential immunity based on legal foundations rather than succumbing to external pressures. The senator’s comments underscored his skepticism towards the Biden administration and his stance on the intersection of law and politics in high-profile cases like this one.