The Supreme Court seemed to take two views of executive power this term, saying presidents should have immunity to free them from constraints while also scaling back the ability of the executive branch to impose regulations.
But both have been the targets of the conservative legal movement, which sees no contradiction.
In a victory for former President Donald J. Trump that will reverberate long after he is gone, the court’s conservative supermajority bestowed immunity from prosecution upon presidents who use their office to commit crimes.
The same justices issued a series of rulings that will make it harder for administrative agencies to impose rules that can cut into the profits of business interests.
In the eyes of the conservative legal movement, presidential power is good while that of regulatory agencies — even though they are housed in the executive branch — is bad.
Persons:
Donald J, Trump