Chuck Schumer calls 'disgraceful' Donald Trump's immunity ruling by SC 'a sad day for our democracy'

WASHINGTON, DC: Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader criticized the Supreme Court on Monday, July 1, for ruling that former presidents will have broad immunity from actions taken while in office.

The ruling is considered a major win for former president Donald Trump as it sends his federal case in connection to the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, back to a lower court which will delay the trial until after the presidential election in November, pending further information on the charges, according to The Hill.

Chuck Schumer says SC's ruling will 'weaken our democracy'

The six-three ruling by the court along ideological lines decided Trump has wide immunity when it comes to his official acts during his presidency.

Warning that the ruling “enables the former President to weaken our democracy by breaking the law," Schumer said, “This is 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,” he added.

Supreme Court ruling sparks outrage among Senate Democrats

The Senate Majority Leader further warned that the decision undermined the Supreme Court's credibility, echoing concerns from other Senate Democrats who have accused the conservative justices of partisanship. 

“This decision undermines the credibility of the Supreme Court, and suggests that political influence trumps all in our courts today,” said Schumer.

Speaking about the court's ruling, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a statement that read, "The Supreme Court has put lawbreaking presidents like Donald Trump above the law."

"This cravenly political decision to shield President Trump grants him a legal armor that no other citizen enjoys. My stomach turns with fear & anger that our democracy can be so endangered by an out-of-control Court," he continued.

"The members of Court’s conservative majority will now be rightly perceived by the American people as extreme & nakedly partisan hacks – politicians in robes,” Blumenthal added.

Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), also a member of the Judiciary Committee stated that the Supreme Court has "lost all credibility."

“This activist Supreme Court has unconscionably allowed Donald Trump to evade criminal liability, a move that all but ensures he will never face justice for his attempts to subvert our democracy," Welch stated.

"It defies logic and our nation’s democratic principle that no person is above the law. Today the Supreme Court stood up for a political figure rather than the rule of law,” he continued.

“It is clear that Donald Trump does not believe the law applies to him. This decision makes it clear that conservative justices of this Supreme Court believe the same,” Welch added.