Just when you thought some semblance of sanity was returning to the nation’s capital, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) surfaces again, this time to announce that she intends to file articles of impeachment against the Supreme Court. Which members of the Supreme Court are not clear; we can assume that she doesn’t intend to see the Court’s liberal members impeached, but with her, who knows?
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) announced Monday that she will soon file impeachment articles against at least one justice on the Supreme Court in the wake of their decision to grant partial immunity to former President Trump as he faces felony charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent liberal on the House Oversight Committee, said the ruling belies a central premise of America’s constitutional design — namely, that no one is above the law — and threatens to put the country on a path to tyranny.
“Today’s ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture,” she wrote on the social platform X. “I intend on filing articles of impeachment upon our return.”
The Supreme Court has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control.
Today’s ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture.
I intend on filing articles of impeachment upon our return.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 1, 2024
Against who? All of the Supreme Court justices? Just the ones who voted in the majority? Does she know? Would it make any difference if she did?
First of all, I would say to the Congresswoman, “Alexandria, please, America is not and never has been a democracy; find someone who can explain the term ‘constitutional republic’ to you before you make any more public statements.” But that’s a common mistake, and it’s not just limited to Democrats if we’re honest.
It’s hard to see what she hopes to accomplish here. The Supreme Court has the final say in these matters by design; they judge laws against the Constitution and, excepting only the constitutional amendment process, have the last word. Every single justice on the court was nominated and confirmed by the process defined in the Constitution. They have rendered a legal decision.
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She’s not the only Democrat who’s upset.
“The Framers of the Constitution envisioned a democracy governed by the rule of law and the consent of the American people,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said. “They did not intend for our nation to be ruled by a king or monarch who could act with absolute impunity.”
Oh, please. This is just nonsensical. I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on television, but as my colleague Susie Moore writes, the decision only confers immunity on official duties:
In a 6-3 ruling, the Court held that a former president has absolute immunity for his core constitutional powers. Further, former presidents are also entitled to at least a presumption of immunity for their official acts. However, there is no immunity for unofficial acts.
In other words, the Court held that the president is entitled to immunity for his acts authorized by the Constitution. There is no provision in the Constitution by which a president can claim monarchical authority; unlike the old Roman Republic, the Senate cannot proclaim him Dictator, nor can he seize those powers legally. The president cannot, under the Constitution, imprison or assassinate his political opponents. That’s not what this decision means, at all.
Just once – just once – it would be great to see these people try reading the Constitution before making these kinds of hysterical statements.
AOC’s irrational filing will, of course, go nowhere. It will be quickly and appropriately round-filed the moment she files, if she even bothers to follow through. That’s as it should be, and that’s another good thing about how our government works – there is enough sanity in the House of Representatives to recognize horse squeeze when they see it.
