Democrats to hold hearing on US Supreme Court’s Trump immunity decision

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) – Democratic lawmakers will hold a hearing later this month on the Supreme Court’s ruling giving former US President Donald Trump immunity from prosecution for crimes related to his acts while in office.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said Monday that the committee will hold the hearing on Sept. 24.

"Congress can’t turn a blind eye to the dangers of the Donald Trump immunity decision by the Supreme Court. We’re going to highlight the blaring dangers of this far-right ruling for the American people,” Durbin said on X.

The Supreme Court "wrongly" ruled that any president, including Trump, can be immune from abusing the levers of government, he said, adding: "It’s misguided and dangerous for our democracy."

Republican presidential nominee Trump was convicted in May on 34 felony counts related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.

He is the first US president to be convicted of felony criminal charges.

The Supreme Court in July granted Trump substantial immunity from prosecution on election subversion charges in connection to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

It did not grant him immunity on steps he took as a candidate.