In recent comments, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) stated that President Joe Biden “better hope and pray” that the Supreme Court comes down in favor of former President Donald Trump’s push for absolute presidential immunity. Graham argued that if the high court sides against bestowing such immunity upon a president, Biden could find himself in legal jeopardy.
The South Carolina senator brought up the case of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed during a jog at the University of Georgia on February 22nd. The suspected murderer, José Antonio Ibarra, had entered the US illegally from Venezuela and was released on parole under the authority that allows certain illegal immigrants to remain in the country.
Graham criticized Biden for being “beyond reckless” in his approach to enforcing the law, particularly regarding the parole statute and its limited nature. Trump, who has previously pledged to name a special counsel to investigate the Biden family’s overseas dealings, echoed similar sentiments as Graham in his pursuit of presidential immunity.
Despite Biden remaining largely silent on Trump’s legal issues, the president last year stated he “can’t think of one reason why presidents should have total immunity from prosecution.” Trump’s legal team has deployed the presidential immunity gambit since last year in response to his four-count indictment over alleged 2020 election subversion. The Supreme Court is currently considering the matter, and their decision will likely have significant implications for both Trump and Biden.
One of Biden’s top allies in the Senate, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), predicted that the president would respect the Supreme Court’s decision on immunity. However, some are concerned about the court’s independence and its willingness to make constitutionally sound decisions rather than political ones. As the court continues to deliberate on these cases, it remains to be seen how they will ultimately decide on the issue of presidential immunity and its impact on both Trump and Biden’s legal situations.
