Hollywood star Kerry Washington took to her social media account to express outrage, falsely alleging that the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that Donald Trump could “order the military to kill a political opponent with zero consequences.”
The Scandal actress told her 5.3 million followers that the “conservative” Supreme Court has laid out a “blueprint for dictatorship,” seemingly unaware that the high court did not endorse criminal actions but rather affirmed longstanding legal principles regarding a president’s authority, dating back at least to Barack Obama’s presidency if not earlier.
“Yesterday the Supreme Court ruled that the president is immune from criminal prosecution,” Washington said gravely in her nearly three-minute video.
“So, I’m going to say something right now that may seem extreme to you. But this is not an exaggeration. Please listen to me very carefully. This decision is a blueprint for dictatorship,” she exclaimed.
“This decision leaves the groundwork for a president to do whatever they want, whenever they want, to whomever they want. And the only thing standing in the way of that happening is you. Your voice, your vote,” she continued.
Washington’s assertion is incorrect. The U.S. Supreme Court did not authorize presidents to act without limits. Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized in the ruling that presidents are shielded only when exercising “core constitutional powers,” and they have “presumptive immunity” otherwise. No president is exempt from prosecution for unconstitutional or criminal actions.
But the actress was sure she had her facts straight and tried to explain further.
“So, according to the Supreme Court — the conservative court that was made possible by Trump’s first term in office — according to that court, the president of the United States is now immune from prosecution for actions he takes as a president while in office,” she said.
“So, what does that mean?” she continued. “Well, as my sister from the Bronx Justice Sonia Sotomayor explained — and I’m paraphrasing — but she said that that decision means that Trump could order the military to kill a political opponent with zero consequences,” Washington added.
This statement is inaccurate. Deploying the military in such a manner is unconstitutional. Even if a president were to issue such an order, military commanders would be expected to reject the illegal directive, as following it could implicate them in criminal actions. Furthermore, immunity does not cover “unofficial acts.”
“So, this is how democracies in other countries have failed in recent years. It’s not by wars, it’s not by coups, it’s through elected government using methods to chip away at the power of the people, until we have no power at all to hold those governments accountable,” Washington added without citing any examples of her claim.
“So, if Donald Trump is reelected, there will be very little that we can do to stop him from using the power of the White House however he wants,” she continued.
“There are reasons to feel frustrated with our democracy, I get it, I feel it, we have a long fight ahead of us to have this country really live up to its ideals,” the How to Get Away with Murder star said.
“But this year, I am telling you that our actual freedom is on the ballot and I am terrified that the belief that too many of us have that our votes don’t matter could mean that one day, in the very near future, they actually won’t matter at all,” Washington concluded.
She ended her rant urging followers to get involved and to get out and vote.
WATCH:
WATCH: Actress Kerry Washington Claims 'Trump Could Kill Political Opponents With Zero Consequences' pic.twitter.com/rELFhHA07N
— Conservative Roof (@ConservRoof) July 3, 2024
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