House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) called on the ideological left to “uphold democratic norms” while hailing the Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity in the case involving former President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
"Hyper-partisan prosecutors like Jack Smith cannot weaponize the rule of law to go after the Administration's chief political rival, and we hope that the Left will stop its attacks on President Trump and uphold democratic norms,” Jordan said in a statement Monday. “The Judiciary Committee will continue to oversee dangerous lawfare tactics in our judicial system.”
The Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision on Monday ruled that presidents have “presumptive immunity” from prosecution for official acts, dealing a blow to special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution of Trump. It sent the case back to the D.C. District Court, where proceedings had been paused to weigh Trump’s immunity claims.
The ruling gives space, however, for areas of the prosecution to move forward, such as Trump's pressure campaign on former Vice President Mike Pence leading up to Jan. 6.
Chief Justice John Roberts directed the lower court to assess "whether a prosecution involving Trump’s alleged attempts to influence the Vice President’s oversight of the certification proceeding in his capacity as President of the Senate would pose any dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch.”
Jordan also chairs the House Judiciary’s select subcommittee on government weaponization, a panel created in response to Republican concerns about government prosecutors and agencies — including those involved in Trump-related cases — improperly targeting political opponents.
In contrast to Jordan’s statement, Democrats — who have long raised alarm about Trump breaking democratic norms regarding the peaceful transfer of power — worried that the decision would enable more breaking of democratic norms.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that the decision marked “a sad day for America and a sad day for our democracy.”
“The very basis of our judicial system is that no one is above the law. Treason or incitement of insurrection should not be considered a core constitutional power afforded to a president,” Schumer said.
