Colle d’Anglais – 06/11
Manon Tussing
Introduction
quest° of presidential immunity => sensitive issue => US, especially as former president Donald Trump is
considering a return to politics.
July 2024, Hugo Lowell => article => The Guardian => a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on this
subject.
draws a direct link to the current context => wh presidential power + questions of legal immunity
are raising concerns.
article's headline, "Trump would be free to obstruct justice in a second term after immunity ruling,"
=> introduces potential abuses of power if Trump was to return to the presidency
raises questions => the notion of accountability in the context of the presidential role.
central and concerning point : the possibility for Trump to escape any form of justice in the exercise
of his presidential power
strong words => “free” and “obstruct,” => suggests that Trump could act without legal limits.
It implies that presidential immunity could allow a president to commit illegal acts without
consequences.
title = the gravity of the situation.
To summarize => begins by recalling that in 2019 => the Russia investigation Robert Mueller had stated
that Donald Trump could be accused of "obstruction of justice" once he left office.
However, this new Supreme Court decision changes things: it declares that presidents now benefit
from absolute immunity for what the Court calls the “core functions” of the presidency. This
includes interactions between the president and the Justice Department.
three main points.
1 => explains this Court decision + clarifies that it covers presidential actions related to constitutional
functions.
Next => shows that this could allow Trump, if re-elected, to act without fear of prosecution, even for
questionable or abusive actions.
Finally => that this decision reflects an increase in presidential power, creating a form of legal protection
for actions that could otherwise be considered crimes.
+ mentions reactions to this decision. Chief Justice John Roberts justifies this immunity as necessary to
protect the president’s freedom of action.
/Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticizes => arguing it allows presidents to escape any form of justice for abuses
of power.
Author => an analysis and raises troubling questions => the future of American democracy, as US is in the
midst of an election campaign + Trump seeks to regain power.
argument => factual, but he also highlights the dangers of such a decis° for the balance of powers.
Lowell repeatedly cites the differing opinions of Supreme Court justices, giving an overview of the
debates and tensions within the American judicial system. He seems to express concern about the
concentration of power around the president.
Sotomayor’s criticism => important, as it underlines the risks of abuse of power. She warns that this
decision makes it impossible for former presidents to be held accountable for illegal actions.
evokes the context of Watergate, wh the independence of the Justice Department was considered
crucial to prevent such abuses. Here, the Court challenges this independence, which may bring to
mind regimes where leaders are “above the law.”
Quest° of presidential immunity => subject of national debate, between those who see Trump as a
threat to democracy and those who support strengthening executive power.
This debate => direct impact on American society: public trust in the judicial system and institut° is at stake.
=> serious and factual tone, but there is an underlying sense of concern, notably through Lowell’s choice of
quotes. He addresses a major problem for American democracy: how far can a president go without being
held accountable for their actions before the law?
In conclusion => raises a crucial and timely question: how far is American democracy willing to go to
protect its presidents?
Decis° could open the way to “untouchable” presidents + risk destroying the balance of powers, a
fundamental value of the American Constitution. In this election week, where the country’s future is
uncertain, this article shows that the question of transparency and accountability of power has never been
more important.
