Jennifer Rubin: The prospect of a US president with a get-out-of-jail card is utterly terrifying

Illegality shrouded in the cloak of ‘official conduct’ should alarm everyone, but the outcome of Donald Trump’s alleged incitement actions remains to be decided upon

Donald Trump could face an evidentiary hearing, that would not produce a verdict but would scrutinise his actions. Photo: Reuters

Jennifer Rubin
© Washington Post

Six months after special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court for an expedited review, and over two months after oral argument, the court held what every reasonable American already understood: Presidents do not get blanket immunity for crimes committed in office.

However, the right-wing majority put its thumb heavily on the scale, thereby chopping off part of the indictment (ie consultation with the US Justice Department) and setting the stage for a complex evaluation by the lower court as to the remainder of the conduct (for example, conversation with the vice-president, public statements), which may still be subject to criminal prosecution.