Two of the top women from the Democratic Party blasted the Supreme Court in interviews this week over the justices’ handling of former President Donald Trump’s immunity claims and their 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case creating a national abortion right.
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to The New York Times on Wednesday, taking a swipe at the court for its abortion ruling that sent the issue back to the states. Since then, more than a dozen states have banned the procedure.
She warned that Justice Clarence Thomas suggested the court should revisit other rulings — like same-sex marriage and birth control pills.
“I don’t want to, at this point, use my voice in a way that is alarmist,” Ms. Harris said. “But this court has made it very clear that they are willing to undo recognized rights.”
Democrats are making abortion an election issue ahead of November, warning that Mr. Trump could enact a national abortion ban if he’s back in the White House.
“I will say that when you look at Trump abortion bans around the country, those abortion bans suggest that there’s a lack of trust of women to be able to know what’s in their own best interest,” Ms. Harris said.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton appeared on MSNBC Thursday to say the high court is doing a disservice to Americans by not quickly deciding Mr. Trump’s claims of immunity against criminal prosecution.
She said the delay suggests the justices are trying to find “loopholes” to side with Mr. Trump.
His election fraud trial in D.C. has been put on hold while the justices decide if a sitting president can face prosecution for acts committed while he was in the White House.
His federal trial over the handling of classified material at Mar-a-Lago is also paused, as is the Georgia state election case while an appeal over the district attorney’s potential conflict of interest is reviewed by state appeal judges.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Ms. Clinton said. “And the people in our country, it looks as though will most likely go to vote without knowing the outcome of these other very serious trials.”
The Supreme Court heard arguments on April 25 over whether Mr. Trump can be prosecuted for official acts from his presidency.
The high court is expected to rule by the end of June.
If the justices side with Mr. Trump — and rule that a president can’t face prosecution for official acts — his criminal cases would be dismissed.
If the court rules narrowly and defines some immunity for certain official acts, it could still be viewed as a win for Mr. Trump because it would delay trials from starting as lower courts grapple with what charges constitute his official acts.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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