1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

Please speak, act, and vote to constrain the results of the United States Supreme Court of Appeals’ decision in Trump vs. United States, issued July 1, 2024. We are, and must remain, a country where no person is above the law. --- The Supreme Court’s ruling awarded absolute immunity to the president when exercising core constitutional powers, and presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for a President’s acts within the outer perimeter of official responsibility. Generally, the “distraction” of criminal charges, and the impact on liberty following a conviction, serve as a deterrent to criminal activity. That is a good thing. We want law-abiding citizens and residents. There is no benefit or reason to place anyone beyond the reach of the law. The Founders risked their lives and liberty to free us from monarchy. To our benefit, the Founders established a Constitution based on the rule of law. Members of the Continental Army gave their lives to that cause. The Court suggests that immunity is necessary to the office. Adding insult to injury, the opinion then quotes George Washington. In no way do Washington’s words even suggest that presidential immunity is necessary. It is obscene that the Court misappropriated Washington’s words in support of its perversion of the rule of law. At the same time the Court ignores the directly applicable words of John Adams, “A government of laws, and not of men” and “There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.” Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution says that the president “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”. It is not necessary to break the law in order to enforce the law. To the extent that a president chooses to break the law, consequences should follow. The Constitution provides the remedy of impeachment. The Founders also recognized that removal from office might not be sufficient punishment. The Court’s decision undermines this explicit Constitutional statement regarding applicability of the law to criminal activity. The Founders were wise enough that if they wanted an exception, they surely would have provided one. They did not. The Court’s decision to gift the office of president with the powers of a monarch is a horrifying and backward step for the rule of law, democracy, and our nation. Please correct this travesty by the Court through appropriate legislation or, if necessary, by calling for a Constitutional Amendment. Finally, please take every opportunity to speak out against calls for political violence. There is no place for it in our country.