Usually, I don’t go political here, and try to studiously not pick any sides in the toxic wasteland that is the current US political environment. Today, except for the obvious and non-obvious political implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling, is no exception.

I think today’s Supreme Court ruling, Trump v. United States, was the worst ruling since the Dred Scott decision. I am not picking sides today, either, except for the American system to which I devoted a large fraction of my life to defend.

If you are a Donald Trump supporter, I ask that you read this entire piece before you pass judgment on this article. I’m not complaining about the downside for the potential prosecution(s) of the former President. This decision is very bad for Americans writ large, and not just for people who dislike Donald Trump. If you are a supporter of Donald Trump, you have no reason to cheer this decision, either. Read on, please. You’ll see.

While it is true that this decision immediately benefits the former President, I stipulate that this is a sword that cuts in both ideological directions. Let me explain my reasoning.

The Chief Justice, in crafting the majority opinion, states as follows:

“…the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity
from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclu-
sive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presump-
tive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.”

A seemingly extreme case was cited in the arguments whereby a President orders Seal Team Six to execute a political opponent. This argument was never refuted by the text of the ruling, and Justice Sotomayor explicitly addressed this particular, seemingly bizarre, instance in her dissent. She states (as paraphrased by ABC News):

‘When the president “uses his official powers in any way, under the majority’s reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution,” she continued. “Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune.”‘

Think about this, and think about this hard.

Joe Biden is still President. He will be President until January, perhaps longer. He is now immune from criminal prosecution for any official acts taken during his tenure as President of the United States. The Supreme Court, in their majority opinion, says so. He cannot be held criminally liable at ANY POINT for ANYTHING that he orders, now, and for the next six months or longer, within the “scope of his duties as President.”

President Biden doesn’t need Seal Team Six to take care of his problem for him. He has, indisputably, command authority over the armed forces. He may not be prosecuted, as of today, for conversations held with, or orders given to, Federal Law Enforcement.

He could pick up the phone, speak with Merrick Garland, and say— “Order one of Trump’s Secret Service agents to shoot him in the head.” This is not theoretical. He has this power RIGHT NOW.

Donald Trump dies, and Joe Biden can never be prosecuted. This is real, and it’s effective immediately.

As Joseph Stalin was purported to say, “Death solves all problems. No man—no problem.”

This, my friends, was a terrible decision. It furthers the corrupt aims of potential future Presidents, and it casts a ghastly light upon decisions President Biden could take tonight if he chooses to do so. There is nothing to stop him. This decision paves the way for real treason. To quote the English author Harington:

“Treason doth never prosper, what’s the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it Treason.”

This ruling guarantees that once elected, a President can be held criminally liable for nothing “within the scope of his official duties.” Nothing! Yes, you say, “But he can be impeached!” I counter that he could simply order the Army to shoot Congress, and I am right. The prospective impeachment goes away. Read the plain text of the ruling.

This is madness, and one side or the other will take advantage.

Count on it.