'Mind-blowing': Alina Habba snaps at Justice Sotomayor for dissent in Trump immunity case
Alina Habba, Donald Trump's attorney, said she found Justice Sonia Sotomayor's opposition to a presidential immunity ruling "mind-blowing."
In a 6-3 decision on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that presidents have immunity for official acts. The ruling sent special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump back to a lower court, where it faces an uphill battle.
But Sotomayor warned in her dissent that the ruling "reshapes the institution of the Presidency" and "makes a mockery of the principle ... that no man is above the law."
Newsmax anchor Shaun Kraisman read a portion of Sotomayor's decision to Habba.
"[The president] orders the Navy Seal Team Six to assassinate a political rival," the host read. "Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold on to power. Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon. Immune, immune, immune, immune.
"Let the president violate the law. Let him exploit the trappings of his office for personal gain. Let him use his official power for evil ends because if he knew that he may one day face liability for breaking the law, he might not be as bold and fearless as we would like him to be. That is the majority's message today. With fear for our democracy, I dissent."
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"The dissent says it all," Habba replied. "The dissent is a problem for our country because they're not looking inward. What we have right now in this country is that we have a political prosecution as a former president and the likely future president because the [Democratic] candidate is weak."
The attorney noted that the immunity decision would also protect President Joe Biden when he leaves office.
"So for me to hear that is, it's a little mind-blowing to be honest," she said. "While I respect obviously Justice Sotomayor's decision, I have to say, you know, I'm concerned that that's actually what's currently happening in our administration, and that's why this decision, the majority decision, is so important."