Trump claims Supreme Court immunity ruling spares Obama from treason case
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a declassified report allegedly implicating Obama and his administration over 2016 election interference that accused Trump of colluding with Moscow.
Trump has accused Obama of treason, while Obama issued a statement denying any allegations.
Even if Obama were to be in trouble, the Supreme Court ruled in a monumental 2024 decision that the President of the United States has immunity from prosecution for official acts in office, in a case argued by lawyers on Trump's behalf.
Trump was asked if 'presidential immunity' would apply to Obama before his trip to Scotland on Friday and the president didn't deny it, going as far as to say he'd done his predecessor a favor.
'He has done criminal acts, no question about it. But he has immunity and it probably helps him a lot. He owes me big. Obama owes me big,' Trump said.
The ex-president's team argued in late 2023 that Trump, and any president, must have absolute immunity from prosecution over actions taken while in office or it could impair important decision-making.
The 6-3 decision split along the court's ideological lines ensures that Trump will not face another blockbuster trial with the case sent back to a lower court to determine what is considered his 'official' versus 'unofficial' acts.
Trump celebrated the decision, writing on Truth Social: 'Big win for our constitution and democracy. Proud to be an American!'
A new report released by DNI Gabbard accused Obama of being behind a 'treasonous conspiracy' to fabricate what Trump repeatedly calls the Russia 'hoax' to bring him down.
Gabbard made a series of criminal referrals to Pam Bondi's Justice Department and the agency is reportedly considering the request.
Obama spoke out about the case via his spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush earlier this week, refuting many of the accusations circling around him.
'The bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction. Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes,' Rodenbush noted.
'These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio' Rodenbush concluded.
Regardless, GOP leadership in both the House and Senate are pursuing investigations into members of the Biden and Obama administrations as they fend off clamoring calls for transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal enveloping the Trump administration.
Democrats have portrayed the reintroduction of the "Russian hoax' saga as a way for the Trump Administration to distract from the demands around Epstein.
The president fingered Obama for trying to 'head a coup' with acolytes like former FBI Director James Comey and former DNI Director James Clapper doing his dirty work.
Trump also called the Steele report, which examined his campaign's ties to Russia, as 'all lies' and a 'fabrication.'
The Mueller Report found that while Russia did interfere in the 2016 election, the Trump campaign did not conspire or coordinate with the Russian government, despite at least 140 contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian nationals.
Trump was asked earlier this week who the Justice Department should investigate following the report's release for a potential criminal referral. He didn't hesitate to name Obama and top members of his security team.
'It would be President Obama – who started it – and Biden was there with him, and [James] Comey was there, and [James] Clapper, the whole group was there,' Trump responded.
At another point, Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi should 'act' on the matter – while also indicating it was at her discretion.
'We have a very competent, very good, very loyal to our country person in Pam Bondi – very respected. And she – it's going to be her decision,' Trump said.
Trump repeated calls to prosecute a wide circle of former Democratic officials come after he posted AI-generated video images of Obama being arrested and thrown in jail wearing an orange jumpsuit.
Trump accused his rivals of organizing a failed 'coup' in 2016, when he defeated Hillary Clinton and captured the White House.
Trump has hammered his rivals for what he calls 'no collusion' ever since the release of the Mueller report, even though Mueller himself never used that phrase.
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