Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced plans to introduce articles of impeachment against the U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday after the court ruled that presidents have immunity for official actions.
The court on Monday ruled that former presidents have absolute immunity for official acts but no immunity for private acts. The case centers around the federal case of former President Donald Trump‘s alleged attempts at overturning the 2020 presidential election results.
Trump’s attorneys argued that his actions constituted official presidential acts and that he was raising concerns about the election’s legitimacy in his official capacity as president. Prosecutors, however, argue that he was acting as a candidate, not a president, at the time.
While Trump celebrated the ruling, many legal and political analysts sounded the alarm about its implications, with some arguing it places presidents above the law.
Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, wrote early Monday afternoon that she would introduce articles of impeachment against the court in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“The Supreme Court has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control. Today’s ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture. I intend on filing articles of impeachment upon our return,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.
Newsweek reached out to the Supreme Court’s public information office and Ocasio-Cortez’s office for comment via email.
Congress has the authority to impeach and convict Supreme Court justices, a key check on the judiciary’s power.
Only one justice has ever been impeached—Justice Samuel Chase in 1804 after Congress accused him of refusing to dismiss biased jurors and of excluding defense witnesses in two politically sensitive cases. The Senate later acquitted him.
It remains unclear whether impeachment would be supported by other House Democrats.
Even if Democrats were to support impeachment, it would likely face hurdles due to Republicans‘ narrow control of the House of Representatives. However, Republicans have a chance of flipping control of the House again in November. Republicans have largely been supportive of the court’s decision.
Representative Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican who chairs the GOP conference, wrote that the ruling is a “historic victory for President Donald Trump, the Constitution, the rule of law, and the American people.”
“The President of the United States must have immunity, like Members of Congress and federal judges, which is necessary for any presidency to function properly. I look forward to continuing to work with President Trump to ensure his victory and Save America,” she wrote.
Democrats have been critical of the decision.
“Today’s Supreme Court decision to grant legal immunity to a former President for crimes using his official power sets a dangerous precedent for the future of our nation,” wrote House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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