Articles written by Mel Gurtov

Mel Gurtov, Professor Emeritus of Political Science of Portland State University|Updated Jul 3, 2024

The US Supreme Court’s July 1 decision to grant absolute immunity to a President’s official acts is indeed, as Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote on X, “a sad day for America” and “our democracy.” Donald Trump and future presidents are evidently now free to follow their worst instincts if they don’t like the result of elections—or anything else. Absent any guardrails, presidents, by claiming they are acting in their official capacities, may incite insurrections, order the justice department to d...