Vincent L. Aguilar

ome former Justice Department officials who served under Donald Trump during his first term fear that the Supreme Court’s recent immunity ruling will make it easier for him to use the department against his enemies if he is re-elected president. Other ex-officials downplayed the impact of the ruling — or endorsed it. Two former Justice Department officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the ruling would embolden Trump. They said it would give Trump cover to improperly pressure the Justice Department for his own political benefit — to prosecute an enemy or go easy on an ally — by saying he was executing his official duties as president. “It gives him tacit approval to keep doing it,” said a former official, who asked not to be named, referring to the Supreme Court ruling. “It sets him up to do the things he has said: to investigate people and send them to jail.”

political benefit — to prosecute an enemy or go easy on an ally — by saying he was executing his official duties as president. “It gives him tacit approval to keep doing it,” said a former official, who asked not to be named, referring to the Supreme Court ruling. “It sets him up to do the things he has said: to investigate people and send them to jail.” “The indictment’s allegations that the requested investigations were shams or proposed for an improper purpose do not divest the President of exclusive authority over the investigative and prosecutorial functions of the Justice Department and its officials,” Roberts wrote. “Because the President cannot be prosecuted for conduct within his exclusive constitutional authority, Trump is absolutely immune from prosecution for the alleged conduct involving his discussions with Justice Department officials.”