‘Win for justice’: Kentucky Republicans praise Supreme Court’s Trump immunity decision
Republican members of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation reaffirmed their support for former President Donald Trump on Monday after the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for their official acts.
Trump — and all presidents, past and future — is entitled to “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his ‘conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority,’” the 6-3 ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, says. “There is no immunity for unofficial acts.”
Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, with Sotomayor writing that Monday’s ruling “in effect, completely insulate(s) Presidents from criminal liability” and in doing so, “reshapes the institution of the presidency.”
Kentucky Republican congressmen Andy Barr and James Comer don’t see it that way.
Barr, of Lexington, said the decision is a “monumental affirmation of the constitutional protections for the presidency.”
“This ruling is a resounding victory for the rule of law and ensures that no president can be unfairly prosecuted for executing their official duties,” he said Monday afternoon on the social media platform X. “It’s a win for justice and a clear message that political witch hunts have no place in our democracy.”
Comer, who represents the First District, called the ruling “the right decision and a win for all Americans.”
“We need strong checks and balances,” he posted on X. “Unfortunately, Democrats continue to weaponize the legal system for political gain and peddle dangerous rhetoric in an effort to de-legitimize the court.”
The American people can now focus on the November election, Comer said on Fox Business Monday morning, “instead of worrying about what a court was going to rule against Donald Trump over some trivial or over-politicized issue.”
Comer then accused Democrats of abusing “every safety valve we have in our form of government.”
“They’ve over-politicized everything.”
Sen. Rand Paul, the member of Kentucky’s delegation who has been arguably the most critical of Trump, said in a statement the Supreme Court’s ruling “will help prevent partisans from using lawfare to attack former presidents.”
“The decision is a rebuke to Democrats abusing the court system to interfere in the election” he said.
But Rep. Morgan McGarvey, the Kentucky’s lone Democrat in Congress, said the decision “makes a mockery of the constitutional principles that are foundational to American democracy.”
“A president is not a king, but the Supreme Court’s decision brings us closer to the tyranny and unchecked power of the monarchy that our revolutionaries laid down their lives to reject,” McGarvey posted on X.
“Let’s be clear, Donald Trump’s Supreme Court has created a new and dangerous precedent that reverberates far beyond current politicians. Our democracy will pay the price,” he said.
Former Democratic U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, whom McGarvey replaced in 2022, questioned what the Monday ruling could possibly allow for, now that the high court has essentially given all past and future presidents a legal shield from alleged wrongdoing.
“There is so much to question about the SCOTUS decision on immunity, but after hearing about it, what would prevent Biden from having Trump arrested and shipped off to Guantanamo?” Yarmuth posted on X. “Apparently not the criminal law.”
Other members of Kentucky’s congressional delegation, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, did not respond to requests for comment or declined to provide comments.
Trump was ousted after his first term by President Joe Biden, after which the 45th president widely — and falsely — claimed the election was stolen. Trump is accused of using his presidential power to try to pressure election officials and state leaders into doctoring results in his favor.
Trump and more than a dozen allies were criminally indicted in Fulton County, Ga. for election racketeering.
As part of that push to remain in power, on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol to try to stop official certification of the election results. Just before rioters broke into the building, Trump gave a rousing speech that many saw as inciting that violence.
The former president, who is again running for reelection against Biden, has long claimed he has immunity from criminal prosecution for such alleged acts.
The Supreme Court’s decision likely means Trump’s criminal trial for charges stemming from Jan. 6 will be delayed until after November’s presidential election.
This story may be updated.
