In a recent court decision, Chief Justice John Roberts explained the rationale behind granting partial immunity to former President Donald Trump. The justification provided by Roberts bore resemblance to a famous quote from former President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal.
Roberts emphasized that the immunity granted was not based on the idea that the President is above the law simply by virtue of being in office. Instead, he argued that such immunity was necessary to allow the President to carry out their constitutionally mandated duties without facing undue pressures or distortions.
This statement seemed to counter the perception that the conservative majority was offering special protection to Trump or any future president solely because of their position. It drew parallels to Nixon's controversial claim in a 1977 interview that presidential actions are not illegal if done by the President.
Roberts clarified that the decision was rooted in previous legal precedents and writings of the Founding Fathers, including references to the Federalist Papers, which were cited by the majority in their ruling.
